Will GM 200r4 work with factory floor shift location?

Ran into a big problem to today. Tried to mock up the starter with TCI flexplate installed on engine. The flexplate is clearly marked "WARNING, this side must be toward engine". So I followed the "warning" and installed as required. But I guess I was in a hurry because I couldn't get the bolt holes to line up. So, just to make sure, I tried installing the crank adapter plate. You can't put it on backwards because it has countersunk screws/bolts so the countersinks must go to the outside. Now remember, Summit/TCI had sent me the wrong crank adapter twice before I finally got the correct one. After checking and double checking everything I found that the crank adapter did fit properly but the flexplate had the holes drilled with the wrong pattern. I was getting pissed all over again...one step forward two steps back.
I went online and looked up the TCI Mopar small block GM flexplate at Summit. The one they showed was one that was shaped like a maltese cross or surfer's cross with no starter gear ring. I was really confused so I called Summit to complain again. I explained that the flexplate had the correct part number on it and so did the box it came in but the picture at the Summit site showed a completely different flexplate. I also explained that I had been sent the wrong parts twice before. The lady couldn't make heads or tails of the problem so she asked me to call back tomorrow for a conference call with Summit...I agreed.
I went back outside and, just for fun, laid the crank adapter over the flexplate holes and it lined up. I felt like a fool. So then I put the flexplate on the crank and NOTHING lined up!!! Am I going CRAZY!!!!:banghead:

Then I had an idea, I rotated the flexplate the WRONG way and guess what??????????????? It fit.:blob: But why I asked myself. After close examination I found that TCI had cut a chamfer on the ID of the flexplate on one side (opposite the side that's supposed to be toward the engine SEE PIC # 5.

Then I looked at the crank and saw that the flexplate would have to have a chamfer so as not to hit on the inside shoulder of the crank. As you can see in pic number 4, it clearly has the warning. The side with the warning does NOT have the chamfer. With all that said I can only guess that TCI put the warning sticker on the wrong side of the flexplate. I know that putting a flexplate on backwards can cause many big problems so I was being very careful to put it on right. I'm still calling Summit tomorrow but I'm going to tell them where they screwed up. The chamfered side has to go against the crank and that's the only way the holes will line up because of the weird pattern on the crank.
After I got all that figured out I put everything on the back of the engine and installed the starter. You can see the pics with the starter gear pulled out engaging the flexplate gear teeth. I was able to get a .045 drill bit between the top of a starter gear tooth and the root of flexplate teeth. I also plan to call TCI just to make sure I am correct about the chamfer and the warning sticker.

Just by coincidence in the second pic you can see the sticker on the flexplate, this sticker should be on the opposite side of the flexplate.


Not sure what happened but the order in which I uploaded the pics came out wrong but I'm sure everyone can figure it out.

Treblig