Just changed the water pump on my 2000 3liter 6 Ranger. It's a lot of work but doable, here are some things I learned. The tools you can rent to hold the pump pulley don't work, you need to hold the pump pulley from turning while turning the fan shaft counter-clockwise with a 7/8 open end wrench. I bought a 6" C clamp from autozone for about $7, wrap your belt around pulley to protect it and put clamp on it straight up, I tapped the wrench on the shaft one time with a hammer and it came loose. Leave the clamp on, you will need it to remove the 4 bolts on the pulley. The picture is with the fan off already to show clamp better.
Here's a good walkthrough, do all the steps:
http://www.justanswer.com/ford/18byx...mp-ranger.html
When it comes to removing the 5 AC bracket bolts this can help you find them, two are behind the tension wheel so you have to remove it, I didn't have a Torx 5 but a socket fit it, here is a good link:
http://www.rangerpowersports.com/for...es-188941.html
You will need, 13mm socket and wrench, lots of beer, hope this helps.
Turn your head sideways for this one, but it shows wrench on fan shaft.