I'm still a newbie but I'm pretty sure on our pumps (wj's) the intake must be removed and machined for a shoe & rideplate. As far as the energizer/ no energizer point I've heard good points made on both sides. Do a search in this forum for a thread entitled "My new pump" by Brendella Jet. He had his pump worked over by MPD. Seems very impressive. Unfortunately the thread is a few years old and therefore the pics are missing.
Matt