I have a 1994 5 speed manual transmission out of a f150 5.0 as well as the starter (both which I want to keep) mated to a 1985 5.0 what year clutch do I need to buy.
further information I am doing a 5.0 ranger swap. I have the clutch for a 1991 f150 5.0, installed the starter for a 94 and it would not engage (wasn’t even close the nose of the starter was like 1/2in to short) bought a starter for 1991 and couldn’t get it installed because of clearance issues in the tight space.

 

I'm sure someone that knows the ins and outs of ford model year changes will chime in soon. I know that automatic starters won't work with a manual transmission so that is the first thing I would check. Make sure that the starter that won't reach is for a manual.
If I remember correctly, the manual starters are LONGER in the nose cone, so that may be the problem you were having. As for year mismatch i am not that well-versed.

 

Is the starter Bendix not coming out far enough or is it out far enough but the teeth are too far away to contact the flywheel teeth? What flywheel is on the ‘85 5.0L? 157 or 164 teeth. It could be that the starter was in the wrong box- that you got a starter for an automatic in a manual starter box.