Filling in the channel with 3M 847 or anything will block off the small bleed hole at the bottom of the channel which is the puddle drain hole. With the drain hole blocked, that corresponding cylinder will eventually be flooded causing the motor to run rough. Best to think this through a bit more.
I’m just wondering if a reed plate from a ’60 or later 5.5 or 6 horse motor couldn’t be substituted for the ’54 plate. These motors had fuel pumps and didn’t have the two large holes in them for the check valve. Since they didn’t, one hole would have to be drilled in it to get the pulses and the puddle drains would still work.
