Okay. I usually only work on Escorts, so this Ranger thing is new to me. So bear with me if I ask stupid questions.

I have a 97 2.3 Ranger. The timing belt broke. We tried like 50 times after it broke to start it- not checking the belt. Did we destroy the engine?

I took everything apart, at the putting back together stage. The book says to put the camshaft, oil pump and crankshaft at top dead center. The camshaft and oil pump are easy. My question is- how do I get the crank there? The belt is gone, and the pulley is already off.

Thanks in advance!

I just did my 97 2.3l last weekend, the cam goes triangle to triangle, oil pump goes diamond to diamond, crank keyway at straight up 12:00, after you install belt, bolt your harmonic balancer back on and start it, make sure all is right, then remove balancer and reassemble. Steve

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1997 Ranger XLT Super Cab, 2.3L, 5 Spd, K&N
1997 Ranger XLT Regular Cab, 2.3L, 5 Spd, For Parts
1995 Ranger XLT Super Cab, 2.3L, 5 Spd
1966 M151A1, 1971 M151A2, 1971 M35A2C
2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Quab Cab Hemi

so the like ridge on it goes at 12? I figured that, wasn't sure fully so figured I'd ask.

This thing is a pain in the butt. Took me forever to get it apart.

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I build Escorts- 95 LX rally car/00 ZX2 gutted track car/03 ZX2 daily driver

I have a question that i can not get answered to my comfort level . When changing the timing belt in the haynes manual and on the forum threads it talks about pulling the plugs and finding tdc. There are also a lot of post about the crank being off 180 degrees and the truck does not start!! Here is my question in changing the belt is it necessary to find tdc by pulling the plugs. If i were to line up the key straight up, the oil pump with the diamonds and the camshaft with he triangles does this automatically make everything correct or could the crankshaft still be off 180%

I hope I asked the question clearly enough

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

You are correct in your assumption Modelageek, these are 4 cyl, overhead cam engines, the 180 out thing does not apply to the 2.3 4 cyl. as they are not v6 or v8 utilizing coventional cam in block, lifter and pushrods, these engines would need to be on compression stroke @ TDC. If the crank keyway is at 12:00 o'clock, then its at TDC. remember the 2 stroke and 4 stroke lessons from High School Shop class.....

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1997 Ranger XLT Super Cab, 2.3L, 5 Spd, K&N
1997 Ranger XLT Regular Cab, 2.3L, 5 Spd, For Parts
1995 Ranger XLT Super Cab, 2.3L, 5 Spd
1966 M151A1, 1971 M151A2, 1971 M35A2C
2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Quab Cab Hemi

thanks for clearing that up for me. i have a great understanding of all the peripheral parts of a vehicle but the actual engine and transmission I am not comfortable with yet .

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).