Repair-It

Ford put together some interesting vehicles using a turbocharged version of the SOHC 2300 "Pinto engine" back in the 1980s. There was the Merkur XR4Ti and the SVO Mustang and even the non-SVO Mustang GT Turbo, and of course there was the 1983-1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. These cars have become quite rare, but I found this one in a San Francisco Bay Area self-service wrecking yard last week.

On a 1996 Ranger it is a 2.5L 4 cylinder engine. All of the Ranger 2.5's had 8 spark plugs for a more complete burn to reduce emissions. This also worked to increase torque (you need torque in a truck to move weight when towing or carrying things). Over the years, there have been many engines like this.

Incidentally, the newer Dodge 5.7L Hemi has 16 spark plugs for the same reasons... Imagine having to replace 16 platinum plugs, parts and labor at a dealership! This also means it is not a true 'hemi' because a true Hemi had a hemisperical combustion chamber with the spark in the center of the 'hemisphere', but they can't put two sparks in the dead center.