I'll be transferring my Ford 460 aluminum water pump to a new 460 engine block soon. The Felpro engine gasket set I purchased provides a new water pump gasket, but it doesn't provide a new water pump back plate gasket. I suppose I'll be able to use Permatex Ultra Black gasket maker to seal the back plate to the timing cover.
I'm just curious, and I hope someone can answer my question. The picture below shows an OEM Ford 460 engine timing cover. There are no openings from the water pump outlet to the engine internals (except for the water inlet passages, of course). That being the case, why is a water pump back plate even required? It sure looks like the water pump (and its gasket) should bolt right up to engine timing cover without any leaks.
