Here is a pic. I have had some 12v intake plates with a spacer built into the plate. This intake plate I have, does not have the spacer built into the plate.
1st gens and 24 valves have the separate heater spacer.
Very few 12 valves have the spacer, my '96 has the grids in the top plate, but a '94 12 valve core I have sitting here had the spacer style.