It sounds like you have a workable solution.  Sorry the new plate was out of spec.

Tried an old thicker tri. Plate and was able to get .0045 clearance.

If the old plates you have are so thick that they keep the sprocket from seating on the cam... the cam and triangle plate will be jammed together and you won't be able to turn the cam. 

Perhaps the new plate you have is under spec thickness and the old ones are closer to "right".  I would certainly check all of them.

Diassembled everything again. Removed triangle plate and reinstalled sprocket and the sprocket slides all the way up against the cam face. Reinstalled the triangle plate and sprocket torqued up the nut to 65 ft. Lbs. still getting .019” . Previously I had hand fitted the sprocket in the triangle plate and you can see the sprocket face sitting about .005 +/- proud of the back of the tri. Plate. This would seem to make sense and would suggest that once installed and torqued up should work giving the proper clearance. I agree that I am probably missing something simple. I have some othe tri. Plates but they are thicker and may not allow the sprocket to contact the cam face. I am going to remove everything again take some more measurements and make sure everything fits together than maybe try the other tri. plates as I don’t have anything else to try at this point.

As above... look for possible problems with the components or assembly before looking for shims.

You said you read old threads on the subject.  Therefore, is it correct to assume you have all the parts assembled with everything torqued up (engine front plate, triangular cam plate, pulley fully seated against the cam shoulder, pulley nut tightened)?  Everything has to be installed and tightened properly before making endfloat measurements.

I'd suggest something alse is awry as that is a massive amount !

Check the timing gear is locating correctly, I've had one which was machined wrong.

Just installed new cam and proceeded to measure end float with new triangle plate and nut torqued up to spec. Measured .019”. Should be .003”-.007”. Read all the postings but no info on where to get shims. Any suggestions?