Phenolic manifold spacer - to be or not to be??

[jrny4rbys]

I need some guidance here. We're replacing manifold / valve cover gaskets as well as other parts to our 1997 Ranger with the 4.0 OHV. We purchased a Mahle gasket kit and it states - for the lower intake manifold - that 1996 and up (EXCEPT 1997) there should be a 3mm phenolic (plastic) spacer installed. Sounds pretty clear, except at disassembly, we found this: the blue felpro (pc #90732). What the heck is this? Is this the spacer that the 97 should NOT have? There were no other gaskets with it. Just that.

So, do we just use one of the two Mahle gaskets?
Or do we sandwich the spacer with the two new Mahle gaskets per the instructions though the 97 should not have a spacer?

Thoughts on this situation? Thank you in advance.

 

[19Walt93]

The piece you removed IS the gasket, I wouldn't layer new ones on it. If the sealing beads around the ports look in good shape I'd clean it and reinstall it.