"Illegal" backing plate?
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2018
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From: Maricopa County
"Illegal" backing plate?
It's water pump / fan clutch replacement time for me.
I bought a replacement backing plate in case the existing one was roached. I went with Ford part # M-8501-460BP
The warning in the upper right corner of the package made me pause.
Can someone school me on this thing? I know I cannot install it into my truck. Why is this backing plate not "street legal"?
1995 F350 460 7.5L
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Joined: Apr 2004
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WAG alert.
I looked this up from several suppliers. No one talks about the "off road" only, though some have that warning iirc.
IMO this is a CYA posting by the suppliers and maybe manufacturer. This is not an OEM part, it's a reproduction for the "...hard to find..." OEM part.
The OEM part went through the certification process in an OEM engine. Since this is a "replacement", technically it's not allowed.
This seems strange, because if you go buy replacement pistons (which would make a difference where this thing is 100% inert with respect to emissions) there is no note about off road only, at least on the pop-up pistons made for a 501 stroker that I looked at.
No one can tell that part is not OEM once it's installed, so slap it in there and drive on.
Serving suggestion.
I looked this up from several suppliers. No one talks about the "off road" only, though some have that warning iirc.
IMO this is a CYA posting by the suppliers and maybe manufacturer. This is not an OEM part, it's a reproduction for the "...hard to find..." OEM part.
The OEM part went through the certification process in an OEM engine. Since this is a "replacement", technically it's not allowed.
This seems strange, because if you go buy replacement pistons (which would make a difference where this thing is 100% inert with respect to emissions) there is no note about off road only, at least on the pop-up pistons made for a 501 stroker that I looked at.
No one can tell that part is not OEM once it's installed, so slap it in there and drive on.
Serving suggestion.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: 0,0,1
It could have something to do with potentially altering the normal operating temperature of the engine. Altering the operating temperature can affect the emissions.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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I don't know much but I would bet you my next pension check there is absolutely no difference in function between the OEM part and the part the OP is describing. It is a nearly flat steel plate with holes around the perimeter. How could that effect cooling?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24,316
Likes: 5,127
From: 0,0,1
I have no idea how, or if it really could...I was speculating a possibility since the plate is a cooling system item. But if there's even a slight possibility it could alter the operating temperature, then like you posted earlier, the company is doing a CYA maneuver.
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