Are the spacers on the exhaust manifold needed, and what are they for?

 

To keep the exhaust manifolds from welding themselves to the block over time...do you have a pic to be sure we're on the same page?

 

They are in between the manifold and the bolt heal, like a 3/4 inch thick washer.

 

yes. I would assume so. If they were not needed ford would have left them off too.
My guess is that they allow the manifold to shift with change in temp and aid in stoping the bolts from breaking and to stop the manfilds from craking.

 

ok, thanks. BTY they are 68 cents each at the dealer. So i picked up 20 of them. 16 to replace the ones that are on it, and two for the ones that i loose while replacing them

 

The way I look at thinngs and I tell my customers, if ford (or whatever car mfg) could save $.50 cents on every car by not putting something on there they would. So if it had it originally, it needs it LOL

 

Way to plan ahead!