2.3L ('83-'97) Slight or major issue?

[iPandaBar]

1993 2.3l 4x4 splash

So I just (finally) got the new engine reinstalled into the truck. Bolted down all the brackets, all the accessories and then......
I look on my workbench and see the timing belt washer ???.
This is not the washer that holds the balancer/pulley hub onto the crankchaft, it is the very very thin washer that goes behind the pulley hub, in-between the timing gear and the hub.
Now that everything is installed there is no way to get the dang retaining bolt out of the pulley.
How important is this washer?
I'll send a pic when my daughter gets off my lap, somebody has a fever....

 

[iPandaBar]

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'm no 2.3L expert...

But it would throw of belt alignment a bit. I would also be concerned that the crank bolt would draw everything up tight. I assume that it also puts pressure across the entire face of the crank gear.

@scotts90ranger knows his way around these 2.3L pretty well... he might know better then I.

 

[iPandaBar]

Well I couldn't fit my impact or my brothers impact in there to break it loose. And there was no way in heck I was going to pull the engine again.
Thank God for sugar maple! I was able to wedge a scrap piece in-between the frame and a pulley bolt and break it loose with a F* off big breaker bar.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'm pretty sure Scott puts the breaker bar handle on the frame rail and hits the key to turn the engine over. But you got it.

 

[scotts90ranger]

yeah, that way works too though

On the washer, I've never tried running one without it, and most of those washers I've seen have wear marks from the belt so I'm pretty sure it's needed... I'm crossing my fingers for ya that the timing pulley comes off easy for ya, those are a jerk when they don't want to move, and they're hardened as I found out the hard way...

 

[iPandaBar]

Engine hasn't run yet so it slid right off!
I'm having different issues now...
?????????