Boy howdy is the above true.... I went thru hell when I installed my BTS trans... They had a machine shop create a new spacer for my trans flexplate swap.. The spacer was made about 3/8 inch too thin...You guessed it... The bolts were too long and bottomed out against the main bearing radius...
Now try to remove said bolts with the end thread rolled over....
I did manage to save the bolts and the crank... Just think how much of a mess it would have been to ruin the crank... Turns out the crank material is much harder than the bolts... So I chased the threads and ground off the first thread... Works fine... I had no idea of the proper spacer thickness but I sure found it out in ahurry. I now have two spare spacers.... Just in case ever happens... The reason for these spare spacers is ford no longer makes them. I did a nationwide search... None to be found. Also on a similar note... The nut that holds down the rear section of the valley pan is no longer made either... I bought 11% of what Ford had left in stock... Another just in case someone has lost theirs because they do grow leggs and walk away sometimes... Some here have even posted about oil leaks back there because they didn't install that funny looking nut with a 3/8 inch hex hole in it..... That hole is for the vally drain and if the nut isn't there you get an oil leak and crap gets into your engine....