Can the lifters in a 1997 ford ranger 3 liter engine be removed without removing intake manifold?
No, on a 1997 Ford Ranger 3.0L engine, you generally cannot remove the lifters without removing the intake manifold. The lifters are located under the intake manifold, and there's insufficient clearance to access and remove them otherwise. While some minor components might be removable without manifold removal, complete lifter access and removal necessitates intake manifold removal.