1. Turn the crankshaft until the timing marks on the crankshaft indicate TDC.
Fig. 2: Timing belt assembly on the 2.3L and 2.5L engine (click image for zoom)
2. Make sure that the timing mark on the camshaft drive sprocket is aligned with the pointer on the inner belt cover.
Never turn the crankshaft of any of the overhead cam engines in the opposite direction of normal rotation. Backward rotation of the crankshaft may cause the timing belt to slip and alter the timing. 
Hope helps.
SOURCE: 1998 ford ranger xlt 2.5
These are not very good but all I could find. The cam mark is about the 7 o'clock position. I cannot see the crankshaft marks in the side pic.
SOURCE: need timing marks ford ranger
The timing marks are on your timing belt cover. There is a little circle on the bottom right of the cover near the harmonic balancer that you can pop out to see if your distributor accesory gear is in the correct position. The camshaft has a triangle on the inside of the gear that you can line up with this accesory gear. The bottom of the timing belt cover has your timing tick marks and you may have to clean off this rectangular piece that is sticking out on the cover to see the marks. A good timing gun and remembering where the number 1 cylinder on your distributor is a good start to timing your motor. Refer to a Haynes Manual and it will give you a good guide line on how to time your motor with TDC. I hope you have good luck with this!
SOURCE: spark plug gap spec. for 1997 ford ranger/4.0 liter
for the most part it is under the hood of your car where the sticker say engine size try this website to see if they have you car listed its www.autozone.com if not call your local part store and tell them its a 4.0 liter and you need the gap on the spark plugs
SOURCE: camshaft timing mark crankshaft timing mark
Belt covers need to be on. Timing mark on crankshaft (while on compression stroke) should line up with TDC mark on cover. then Camshaft mark, needs to line up by looking through access hole of cover, and align mark on cam sprocket with pointer on inside of belt cover.
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