the plate between the block and trans is very important. most places refer to it as a block plate and as noted above they are actually all the same except for the hole for the starter. you need to be sure to use one that is correct for the trans or bellhousing that you are using (if you are using a C4 from a 302 behind a 351 you need the 302 plate). these plates serve several important purposes and all fords came with one since the mid 60's. the plate determines starter engagement depth, input shaft pilot depth and torque convertor engagement depth. sometimes you will get lucky and it will all bolt together and work. but statistically speaking i think your odds are somewhat better buying a lotto ticket! due to manufacturing tolerances you can sometimes get away without the plate but the lack of a plate can cause nasty damage to the front bearing in a manual trans, to the front pump on an automatic trans, and to the starter drive and flywheel or flexplate. also note that some manual trans and auto trans plates have all the same bolt holes and can be swapped but if you put the std trans one on an automatic how are you going to put the torque convertor nuts on? i know a local genius who decided to do this and bolted the torque convertor to the flexplate and then slipped the trans over it! it was not until he had it running and was adding fluid that he realized that the drain plug was not in the convertor! he was actually lucky because you can get to it through the starter hole but i waited a few hours to mention that fact to him {G}. hawkrod