I'm REALLY new here. I bought an 81 ranger in Dec. Its been a great work truck but I've got a mystery motor ( I mentioned that in my introduction on the getting to know you thread) my buddy Bill down at O'Reillys and I have kinda narrowed it down to a 70's mseries big block. ( I get the idea of what that means. ) anyway. been running alright for "an old farm truck" and water pump went out on sunday. the water pump was mounted flush to the timing cover. no plate between just a gasket and rtv. I've been told by someone at car quest that there should have been a plate between the water pump and the timing cover. there wasn't one attatched to the old water pump and there wasn't one with the new one. and I'm mechanically inclined enough to realize when bolts will not reach to seat right. if I were to add the plate then the two gaskets there is no way that some of the shorter bolts would fit. with this being a "mystery motor" and the water pump had worked fine for quite a while concidering the age and crustiness of the old gasket. is it possible that this is how the motor came? and that I am safe in replacing it the same way? I've GOT to get this big girl running so I can get back to work.

thanks!

 

Any chance you could snap a few shots of this engine and post them? Pictures will help in identifying this engine.

What about the engine casting number, or serial number? Post that too, as sometimes you can get lucky in a Google search....

As to the water pump; did it run that way without the plate that you are aware of? If so, you'd have your answer, and I'd simply duplicate it on the new water pump install.

 

The timing chain cover is the back plate of the water pump, that is normal on many V8 Fords.