Explorer Front Dress Question

[71 CA Bronco]

What are these spacers for?

I finished my front dress assembly (donor was 1996 5.0) and have them left over. What did I forget? Hoping someone has a front dress exploded diagram.

Any help on this is greatly appreciated.

 

[Crush]

dont think they go with the explorer front dress. mine didnt have them???

 

[SavageBurro]

timing cover guides?

 

[Tiko433]

That's what I was thinking. The two guides and the bottom of T cover one on each side

 

[surfer-b]

cant really make out the size of them, nothing to scale them to, but there are spacers for the pwr steering pump to bracket, which I notice in the pic of the motor you don't have the pump mounted

 

[73azbronco]

Are they out of the brackets themselves to center the bolts? I vaguely recall my brackets having inserts.

 

[71 CA Bronco]

They are about 3/8 inner diameter and 1/4 thick. Way too thick for timing chain guides. I still had mine in the block when I installed the timing chain cover.

I found them under the front dress after removal from the donor. Scratching my head.

 

[71 CA Bronco]

cant really make out the size of them, nothing to scale them to, but there are spacers for the pwr steering pump to bracket, which I notice in the pic of the motor you don't have the pump mounted

I'll check power steering pump but it didn't look like it had a place for them.

 

[71 CA Bronco]

Are they out of the brackets themselves to center the bolts? I vaguely recall my brackets having inserts.

This might be the most likely scenario. I'll have to pull everything back off though to check.

 

[73azbronco]

Yeah i'd pull mine off but it's already complete, sorry. Pretty sure They go in the backside between the block and bracket, the big bolt holes i think. Sort of surprised you didn't notice a lot of play while installing it. Maybe the guy you got them from gave you extra?

 

[Gatordog]

I might go with the Explorer 5.0 engine and accessories, but was wondering if any cutting of the frame or cross member is needed. If so I will stay with the factory V belt system. So my question is do you have to cut or notch the frame? Also, what is the going price for a Explorer 5.0? The local scrap yard wants 500.

 

[jagbucket]

you can tilt the motor enough or as i did just add shims at the motor mounts with 1 inch bl the ps res. still would have hit the hood but i relocated that with the hydroboost system anyway
those parts might be for the a/c bracket as it must be centered for belt alignment.
i think the serpentine system is superior to the v belt and worth the extra effort to install if nothing else quieter and self adjusting

 

[SavageBurro]

you can get a smaller pulley... no clearance needed. or you can hammer the xmember a tad. no cutting needed.

 

[sykanr0ng]

you can get a smaller pulley... no clearance needed. or you can hammer the xmember a tad. no cutting needed.

Or you can use Extreme motor mounts.
Or you can shim the engine up such as with washers.

 

[garberz]

My lower idler pulley clears fine with stock motor mounts. No mods needed. You’ll need a 2” body lift, plus you’ll have to lower the P.S. reservoir if you’re running a stock hood. The WildHorses Explorer/Saginaw pump bracket fixes that issue also.

Mark

 

[71 CA Bronco]

Well still no luck. Doesn't look like I missed anything behind the brackets. The bushings don't fit into any of the holes.

 

[71 CA Bronco]

I haven't hooked up the PS or AC yet but do not see a place for the there either. Its a mystery. ;D

 

[904Bronco]

I am relatively Certain that those spacers do not belong with the front dress at all.

Something like them on the crossmember of the trans/Tcase.

I have done 3 front dress changes, never used anything like them.

 

[sanndmann3]

I've never seen a spacer like that either for the serp set ups...
not sure where they belong.

 

[71 CA Bronco]

I was starting to think the same thing myself. I had a bunch of nuts and bolts left over after the engine pull.

I did pull the engine and trans together. Still eats at me I don't know where they came from. I sure do appreciate the information from you all. If I figure it out I will pass along the information. I feel like a dumb ass!