Do you guys here with the mid 90s model 2.3L change your own plugs or bring it in? They look awfully difficult to change, I can't even seen most of them. Thanks!!!

 

I change mine myself. Tools needed;
Needle nose to pull wires off/out on driver side(last 2)
3/8 drive ratchet w/extension and elbow

 

It helps if on the drivers side #4 cylinder if you unplug the egr connector and take off the vacuum line to it and the line which supplies the vacuum to the heater controls.
There is a connector right at that point. I tuck them on the other side of the PCV line
so they are not in the way. For that plug wire I made a tool out of flat sheet metal
to go down along side the boot hooking under it to pull it. Arthritis doesn't give me the
grip needed. They are not that bad to do.

 

So, that tool looks like 2 short fingers bent @ 90 degrees & is just wide enough to clear the spark plug?
I'm due for plugs on my 97, so I'm going to make one of those up.
My knuckles thank you.
AL.

 

You have got the right idea, make it long enough.

 

Last time I changed the plugs on my 92, I just took the upper intake loose.

 

Do you have to replace the gasket? If so, about how much did it cost? Anyone recommend removing the a/c compressor brackets to get to the front ones? (My buddy has a 99 4cyl)

 

When it came time to change the plugs in my 2.3, it looked like it would just be more work than I was willing to do. I changed my mind when the local Ford dealer quoted $240 to change the eight plugs. It is a full day's work. But whether or not its worth it depends on how much cash you got.

 

Mmmm, i hate dealer quotes on time. it took me 20 min... and one "wobble Socket" from sears. thats what i call the socket, it's just a socket and universal all in one.

oh and long needle nose pliers..

 

I found out in '91, when I bought my first Ranger, that apparently Ford didn't want anybody working on the 2.3, but they forgot one important thing.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

With lots of patience, and a bit of cussing (oops, shouldn't do that....haha), I learned that it can be done, and usually I bang up at least one of my knuckles, and then I know I've done a good job getting around what they didn't want me to be able to do. This process usually takes me about an hour, but I tend to be a little picky, and make sure that I've reconnected anything I might have to disconnect, and then I double check myself, again, before I finally close the hood.

Now, on my '97, I use the Motorcraft plugs, so I don't worry about changing them as often. But I've never believed that a spark plug can hold up for 100,000 miles. When I bought my '97, the first thing I did was to check the plugs. It had 53,000 on it then, and not only were the 'fried', but one of them was broken. When I pulled it out of the spark plug socket, it fell apart.
So, if you're patient, determined, and have the time, you can do it yourself and save all the bucks for other things for your truck.