I am attempting to put an explorer timing cover on an older engine with a double roller chain. I didn't assemble the engine and I don't know what to call this piece of metal that has a 90 degree bend on the end. Anyway it does not clear the timing cover. Does anyone know what this is? Can it be removed?

Could it be the timing pointer ? Thats the first thing that came to mind.

It goes on the top bolt of the timing gear. throw it away you dont need it the bolt is good enough. If you like go to v-8 rangers.com and click on malcolm's engine pics you should see it.

To be more precise, the piece bolts to the cam bolt. I don't know what its function is. The explorer engine that it came off of doesn't have anything like that.

its probibly the mech fuel pump jig unbolt it throwit away.no need for it here.

I had the same problem! I called ford and they didn't know what is was either... I cut off the 90 degree, and have been runnng ever since! The guy at ford looked it up and it said something about a fuel pump , even though it has nothing to do with it, but it might be a jig of some sort!

Tht's the little hootie that drips engine oil on the fuel pump eccentric. If you are running an EFI engine, yank it.

-James