Quote:

Make them .250,1/4 inch and have the back side water pump housing that mates to the block machined 1/4 inch also, all the pulleys will line up that way




If I did that it's the same thing as not having the spacer? I suspect you meant, use a 1/4" spacer then take off .060" off the water pump.
Turns out the back of the water pump was just touching the timing cover when I assembled it all again to check clearances. So I milled .030" off the back of the pump. That and when I install the gaskets I'll be good to go!