replacing my motor

[tracetidwell]

I have an 88 ford ranger that recently just died I did an oil change and put on the wrong filter got it home fine but had to stop and pour in a few quarts of oil. Now i fixed the oil and all but it wont start it was running bad on the way home I did a valve cover gasket and new cap rotor button and wires but may have got the timing wrong or who knows the problem. Its a 2.0 engine and I just need to know what would be the best way of replacing the motor or just advice would be nice I have like 600 to do whatever needs to be done to it, its also a manual.

 

[BlackBII]

Before thinking about a new motor, I suggest trying to get this one to start, when you put on new wires, are you sure you got them all back on right?
Get a book, put the motor at Top Dead Center and check the wires/timing again
I also suggest checking the basics also,
Is it getting spark?
Is it getting gas?
Compression?

 

[tracetidwell]

Not sure I did them before I drove it home like I did that before running it home with the wrong oil filter and since I parked it then nothing. I get spark and gas and theres compression I don't know how to check timing or anything like that

 

[Mark_88]

Hmmm...If you didn't do anything other than drive it home and change the wires then it shouldn't be timing...

Did you move the distributor at all or were you able to move it when you removed the cap and wires??? That can cause these engines to not start up and is a simple fix, just remember to tighten the bolt holding the distributor once you get it going...

If you can, try rotating the distributor a few degrees counter-clockwise (or clockwise) and crank it. My old 2.0 was funny like that too...sometimes wouldn't start and sometimes wouldn't even crank. May be a loose ground wire too...check the connections to the distributor to make sure they are tight (the wire connectors that is) and see if you get backfire when you rotate the distributor (that's usually a good thing and may indicate timing is actually off).

Your plug wires may actually be on wrong too as suggested by BlackBII...that can give you backfire or rough running if it does start...