Remote Water Pump for Small Block questions

I love the tech you guys share on this board. I have an issue that i'm trying to research. I'd like to run a frame mounted remote water pump and need direction to the block off plate that the water lines would connect to.

Also- after thinking about this for a while, maybe i dont need a plate to attach fittings to. Has anyone seen the timing cover water passages tapped for fittings? I dont have one loose to measure but maybe it's close a fairly common size of pipe thread?

Two 90degree elbows out of the timing cover and no mech pump would really save a ton of room....

Thanks in advance,
-Rick