maby i need to clarify this .when i used the mopar water pump housing was in the early 80's i had to fab 2- 1/4 inch aluminum spacer plates for it to bolt up without hitting timing cover so yes its useless without the spacer plates . cant put a date or part # what year mopar made these housings.
My guess is that housing had been milled 1/4" for a motor plate but you didn't know it. There are hundreds of those around. That housing was used on the 65 and 68 Race Hemi's and sold over the counter for decades and I've never heard of it hitting anybodys timing cover. One that has been milled looks exactly the same until you lay it beside an uncut one.
