I've posted about this on small blocks before. Can't see why they would have done any better a job on BB's. Run a 1/4" mid plate. Make a new crank adapter 1/4" thicker or a 1/4" shim. Put it together and use 1/4" less shims. Worked for me. Then I got tired of chasing shims across the floor and made a starter shim or just tack the shims needed together.

Question though. Does ATI and Reid do a better job with all of this?

Oh and forget buying a midplate for a small block to space the starter as well as the bell. Why? JW put the starter in a different place than MOPAR. Make your own mid plate, problem solved.

Leon