Ok to start things off i thought the merkur xr4ti I pulled my engine from was a 87, but after pulling the pan and noticing the difference between my pan and old pan and researching more about the changes ford did in iirc early 86, the merkur xr i pulled my engine from must have been a early 86.
My engine must have been the early style as it had a 4 piece oil pan gasket,bigger outside bolts, and 2 extra bolts to hold the pan on compared to the 87 xr pan.
For some reason when i was ordering parts for this project i just ordered a new oil pan for a 87 xr4ti instead of a ranger.
When I bought this ranger the org. 2.0 engine was blown and I had a 78 2.3 out of a fairmont laying around that I threw in it a couple years ago.
The stock 78 2.3 pan is rusted so i cant use that, but i will have to check if the org. 83 2.0 pan was good and maybe I could use that, thats if it fits the 2.3 which im unsure of ???
So, Yeah i think ford changed the blocks and pans in early 86 on the 2.3s.
Ok so if i use a later pan and the older style 4 peice gaskets would that work? as i can not find a new oil pan for a 85 2.3 ranger fior some reason.