Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,344
Likes: 5,461
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
There was a recent thread that overlaps with some of the issues of this one. You want the stem to insert below the threaded portion of the steerer. After that has been achieved the amount of spacers between the locknut and the threaded bearing race is moot.
Replacing a fork often is for a reason, like a frontal impact. Do the safe thing and inspect the rest of the frame before going forward. Andy.