ive seen divider plates for sale . my existing pump is leaking , seals are failing, it is not the orig. *** but was replaced at engine rebuild in 2003. what are these divider plates and do i need this part along with pump and thermo...  

I'm new to rebuilding pontiacs myself, the divider plate is needed along with the tubes to keep the water going the right direction. The high flow water pumps will aid in cooling. Most of these motors will stay cool with proper radiator 3 or 4 core plus use of a shroud and good clutch fan or electric fan. Ron  

I run a flow kooler Aluminum water pump. It flows the same at idled as a stock one does at 3000 rpm. They are the way to go. YES the divider plate and lines on the divider plate ARE A MUST or you WILL overheat. I run the line returning from the head into the intake and block off the small water pump line. This keeps hot water from bein mixed into the cool water returning from the radiator. I also have the front bypass from the front of the intake manifold to rear of the water pump blocked. This also allows hot water to mix with the cool return water. If you do that mod you must reove the thermostat and run a restrictor washer or the pump will deadhead until the thermostat opens. Only drawback is the it takes the engine a little longer to heat up. I make 575 hp and can idle in traffic on a 100 degeree day at 200 degrees. When I start to move I drop back to 160 degrees. The hottest I ever got was on the Power Tour. It was in Tulsa and it was 105 out and I sat in traffic for 2 hours to get into the venue.It did go to 220 degrees. It did go down to 190 when I finally started to move.  

I was looking at the repair manual for the 71 F series and in the break own diagram, I see no divider plate, nor do I find a reference to it in the section on engine or cooling. It there a part number or some other way I can see if I have what I need or not?
thanks  

The divider plate is exactly that, a plate that goes between the water pump and the timing case, the same shape as the water pump gasket. It has two small holes that match up with the pass-thru tubes and one big center hole behind the pump impeller. The tube are brass or copper and prevent erosion of the aluminum timing case, there are rubber seals on them that seal against the back side of the divider plate. The plate, both tubes and both seals must be in place for the cooling system to flow correctly. If the water pump is installed, you can usually tell if the plate is there by looking where the pump and timing case meet. You should see the water pump, a gasket, the plate (1/16" thick), another gasket and then the timing case. Hope this helps.
Steve