WH Saginaw bracket for Explorer serp setup

[JWMcCrary]

Went to test fit this today and the bolts in the kit for the head are 7/16, the front driver side of the head are 3/8..., I checked 2 other engines I have sitting here and all are the same, 3/8 threads. The instructions that come with the kit spell it out in detail and they match the hardware in the kit. What am I missing here? Obviously I can go grab some 3/8 bolts but I just can't see WH having this wrong...or if there were options you would have alternate hardware included in the kit, or warned about it. Curious if I'm not seeing this correctly. I can call them tomorrow but can't stop thinking about it.

 

[BroncoChicken]

I think two of the holes on the passenger side are 3/8-16 and one is 7/16-16. All three on the driver side should be 7/16-16, which is where the Saginaw bracket is mounted. Check your driver’s side head.

 

[JKH67302]

My 302 is like yours, it has 2 3/8 bolts and one 7/16. I have no idea when they changed but the GT40P heads I have have the 7/16 bolt holes. I was going to use my old heads with my Ford EFI/Explorer swap but have since decided to run the GT40Ps. I was going to just use 3/8 bolts as you mentioned. I'm sure someone else on here has done the same and can chime in on how it worked out.
James

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[BroncoChicken]

I mounted the explorer serp brackets to my stock ‘75 heads and the GT40p heads the are currently installed. Same setup on both. I don’t know why the bolt size is different based on the left or right end of the head, but they are.

 

[sanndmann3]

I mounted the explorer serp brackets to my stock ‘75 heads and the GT40p heads the are currently installed. Same setup on both. I don’t know why the bolt size is different based on the left or right end of the head, but they are.

Yep, every serp kit I have pulled is as described above. Not sure why Ford did this but I believe it holds try for just about all the Windsor series (260, 289, 302 & 351) except perhaps for some early engines... could be wrong but thats my understanding.

 

[JSBX]

I have GT 40 heads off a 96 Explorer and all three bolts on the driver side are 7/16.

 

[JWMcCrary]

I had an error in my original post that I edited, should have said drivers side are all 3/8 instead of passenger side. The drivers side is where the WH bracket goes, saginaw power steering.
Still though my problem is the kit has all 7/16 bolts and all 3 of my holes are 3/8, without a doubt. I assume this isn't common since the kit has 7/16 bolts.
Can be solved easily by getting the correct bolts, but I have never had anything from WH before in 15+ years that didn't have all the correct hardware for my application...seems my application may be the issue here.

For clarity these heads have three 3/8 on one end and one 7/16 and two 3/8 on the other end. With the heads installed all of the holes on the drivers side front are 3/8. On the passenger side front I have one 7/16 and the other 2 are 3/8.

 

[BroncoChicken]

Welp, I don’t know how to assist further. WH sent the correct hardware, wondering about the heads on yours now...
It’s an easy fix like you said.

 

[BroncoChicken]

What heads are you running? Stock? Aftermarket? Application?

 

[JWMcCrary]

What heads are you running? Stock? Aftermarket? Application?

Stock 302 heads, from what and what year I have no idea.

The bolt in my hand is 7/16, the bolt started into the head is 3/8.
I've worked on small block fords for over 40 years, just never thought much about the thread size on the end of the head, just grabbed what I needed or used what was there. Looks like a trip to tractor supply for some bolts.

 

[JKH67302]

The holes on my old heads were the same except for the upper right bolt hole (if memory serves me correctly) was 7/16. Those heads of mine were 1968 302 heads (done have the exact part number handy). I chalked it up to early casting variances. I wonder if you have just another early crazy casting or could you have 289 heads? I Have no idea if 289 heads were all 3/8 like that or not, just a thought. It really does not matter much at this point, I would go get the hardware like you mentioned.

As a side note, the write up on this conversion here on the forum mentions the smaller bolt holes on some heads and they call it "rare". Haha go figure!

James

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