I got my motor out, thinking I would shorten it while it's out to make more room for stuff. Lookin at the explorer timing cover/water pump/etc.. to save 1.5"

Just wonderin if others have done that..

(I got a mustang 5.0)

If your looking for more room in the engine bay you might wanna relocate your radiator to the rear.

As far as shortening up the SBF, the Explorer front cover conversion is all that I know of, but someone else might chime in.

The 91-93 Tbird uses the same Timing cover, this might help at the junk yards. Im going to use the Tbird timing cover, and smog pump, alternater bracket. As the 96-01 Explorer does not use a smog pump. I found a power steering bracket off a ford van that uses a saginaw pump,(using the chevy remote resivoir pump,with ford serpintine pulley).Also found an AC bracket off a van that looks like it will work. Im going to try the Explorer water pump, will either space out the pulley or try pulling it out to the correct depth. With preliminary fitment tests looks like it will all work with minor engineering work. 94-95 Mustang cover also the same.
Explorer pump
http://catservices.wrencheadpro.com/SmartPages/partinfo/A1C/58535.jpg
94-95 Mustang pump
http://catservices.wrencheadpro.com/SmartPages/partinfo/A1C/58498.jpg
Harmonic balancer/ pulley
http://www.mgbconversions.com/techroom/MYMGB302Conversion/Sept2004.htm

the tbird cover will get ya about 3/4" (like the 94-95), the explorer will get ya about 1.5"

or so I've been told..

http://www.mgbconversions.com/techroom/MYMGB302Conversion/Sept2004.htm

that's a pretty good link, looks like the difference between 94-95 and explorer isn't really that much - still, if your gonna go through the effort..

I ran that bracket, but it's gonna be too far out if your using a short front setup..

not a good pic but that's the bracket with the a/c delete from a ford truck

http://rcrc4x4.com/gallery/albums/engine/DSC06517.sized.jpg

The more I think about it I think I'll just stick with what I got - if you go to the explorer stuff there is no timing marks or provisions for em (they are distributorless)