Was going to do this, but it suggests that it only applies to the 11 bolt pumps. Thought all 1st gen pumps were 8 bolt? Mine is, so I guess I can't do this mod on mine.
You should have a stamped steel divider plate same as an 11 bolt pump.
I have seen some cast divider plates but I think they were on much earlier motors. I had one on my 64 Tempest. It was in bad shape so I just swapped it out for the stamp steel. I made the mode and that put it back in.
The most ideal way to close the gap is to repress the vanes down so it sits higher vs pounding down the divider plate. But since I do not have a press out comes the hammer.
