Water Pump Plates and Accessories

The Importance of the Water Pump Plate

The water pump plate's primary function is to separate the incoming coolant (from the bottom radiator hose) from the outgoing coolant (pushed into the engine block). It creates a closed chamber for the water pump impeller to operate in, maximizing the pressure and volume of water entering the block.

Issues with Stock Plates:

• Corrosion: Original steel divider plates are highly susceptible to rust and pitting over time, which compromises their sealing surface and creates rough areas that hinder flow.

• Improper Clearance: The gap between the impeller blades and the divider plate must be precise (typically $0.030$ to $0.050$ inches) to prevent "dead spots" and cavitation. Factory plates often warp, leading to improper clearance and poor pump efficiency.

Stainless Steel: The Butler Performance Solution

To address the durability and flow issues of the factory unit, Butler Performance offers Stainless Steel Water Pump Divider Plates for both the early 8-bolt and later 11-bolt timing covers.¹

• Corrosion Resistance: Stainless steel is impervious to rust and corrosion, ensuring the plate's critical sealing surface remains flat and its internal flow channels remain smooth for the life of the engine.

• Durability: The rigidity of stainless steel resists warping, helping to maintain the critical small clearance gap between the plate and the impeller blades, which is essential for maximizing the water pump's flow rate.

• Precision Fit: These plates are laser-cut or precision-stamped to ensure accurate fitment within the timing cover, providing an immediate upgrade in cooling system reliability and efficiency.

Essential Supporting Accessories

For the 11-bolt timing cover—the design favored for high-performance builds due to its superior sealing—Butler Performance stocks several key accessories that work in conjunction with the divider plate:

• Stainless Steel Water Pump Sleeves with O-rings: The 11-bolt design utilizes two small sleeves to guide coolant from the pump plate into the engine block and timing cover. Butler offers stainless steel sleeves equipped with O-rings.² These sleeves ensure a perfect, leak-free seal and are a massive reliability upgrade over the factory steel sleeves and basic paper gaskets.

   

   

• High-Volume Water Pumps (FlowKooler, etc.): The best divider plate works optimally when paired with a high-flow water pump. Butler frequently pairs their stainless plates with pumps featuring high-flow impellers (such as FlowKooler pumps) that are designed to complement the improved flow dynamics created by the precision divider plate.

• Divider Plate Gasket Sets: Crucial for a leak-free seal between the divider plate, timing cover, and water pump. High-quality gasket materials are supplied to ensure all surfaces are completely sealed against pressure and corrosion.

By providing these precision-engineered water pump plates and accessories, Butler Performance ensures that a Pontiac engine's cooling system is not relying on decades-old, corroded factory parts. This attention to detail in coolant flow efficiency is directly linked to the engine's ability to maintain a consistent operating temperature, a foundation for reliable horsepower.