I just picked up my first Ranger tonite. Last owner did lots of work for safety inspection and then took it for etest, and they wouldn't even test it because of the white smoke. He pulled off head and didn't notice anything wrong with gasket and reassembled w/old gasket, and got cam timing way off. ( sounds pretty dumb idea to me) Anyway, I am going to try a headgasket, but am wondering about alternative 2.3 4cyl motors if that doesn't fix it. Iknow the tempo/topaz hsc is totally different, but am wondering about other year rangers, mustangs and I have a 1987 Tbird turbo coupe rotted to bits but runs awesome.

Are parts/heads etc interchangable on these 2.3s? or am I barking up the wrong tree? I am a truck/coach mechanic but have NO experience with the 2.3, other than the 87/88 turbo coupes(I've had 3 of those without any work needed)

Thanks in advance for any help, tips, advice, even constructive criticisms.