I recently ordered a new idler pulley from Ford as the bearing was shot in mine. When the parts came in and they told me the $35 price I said "forget it"! Unfortunately, the pulley is plastic and the $8 bearing cannot be removed. So I grabbed some 2.5" OD AL bar and fabricated one on the lathe. The correct OD to the top of the rib is 2.295".

I suspect that what the dealer has supplied you is the belt tensioner idler pulley. The bearings in these CAN be replaced.

For interests sake, the early Cougars used a steel pulley which is significantly heavier than the plastic Contour part (bearing is the same). Later Cougars and 3.0's do not have an idler pulley at all.

Sorry about the use of Imperial measure, but that's what I work with. (2.54 cm. = 1")

Trust this helps.

Redcoat Raceworks. Performance parts and custom fabricating for Contours, Mystiques and Cougars. Specializing in chassis and suspension parts. Custom end links, control arms, strut tower bars, engine torque braces, etc.