[Chaplin]

Chopper-

As to your first question, the only answer I can think of is that a pressed fitting is cheaper to produce than a threaded one.

I just installed my remote filter bracket on my edelbrock waterpump and am familiar with your predicament. I followed the directions that ERA supplied with the remote filter bracket (I'm assuming you also have ERA's remote bracket) and it does work. You need to machine/cut/grind down the lower mounting boss on the waterpump to apx. 3/8" (measuring from the rear of the boss to the front) and then your bracket will fit. I used a cutoff wheel and file to do the job and it worked out fine. Truth be told, you could probably get away with leaving the boss 1/2" thick and it would probably work fine. However, I should add that my bolt configuration is as you described- the top bolt goes in from the front and the bottom bolt I did put in from the rear. With the bottom bolt, however, I put a nut on first and locked the bolt in place to create a stud, then put the bracket on and then locked the bracket to the stud with an egg corn nut (stainless by the way and looks pretty good).

Hope this helps.