Just to make you aware...the divider plate clearance will NOT fix a car overheating as yours did. Something else is wrong. For example a thermostat stuck, radiator clogged, clogged passage in the block, stamped type impeller rotted away, etc.
With those temperatures there is a serious chance damage was done...but you wont know until you try firing it up again....which you can safely do for a couple of minutes once it cools again. I'd check your compression and oil immediately....and continue checking your oil for signs of water.
As for the divider plate itself......as mentioned toward the end of this thread there is a better way than hammering on the divider plate. It will be very difficult that way to get an evenly clearanced space. Instead, if the gap is too large you'll need an arbor press....if you dont have one any shop should. You are going to place the water pump snout down under the arbor press....but suspend it by 2 pieces of plate steel UNDER the impeller. Then slowly press down on the shaft, pushing it down into the impeller (essentially causing the impeller to be pushed further from the water pump itself). Keep checking with your divider plate as you progress until the impeller just touches the divider plate........so when you add the gasket you'll only have the space of the gasket as clearance.
Any shop with a press can do this for you, and I'd be surprised if they charged you more than $15-$20, as it can be done in 5 minutes.
Good luck!
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