I have a 2001 Ford Ranger EDGE 4x4 3.0L and I'm installing new cylinder heads. The gasket set I order said it was for this vehicle, but the head gaskets have me scratching my head...

I know there is a difference between the FWD and RWD Vulcan 3.0 head gaskets, and that the RWD gaskets should have the front water ports blocked off.

The gasket kit I received had one head gasket with the front water port blocked off (the driver side), but the passenger side gasket does NOT have the front water port blocked off! Is this ok??

Photo of the Passenger side gasket, head side facing up, and front of the engine to the right: https://ibb.co/zPNkfcH

You can see the large water passage on the rear (left) side of the gasket, but there is also a small passage for the front water port on the front (right) side of the gasket as well.

I've already installed the driver side head and gasket, but the gasket had the large rear water port slot like it should, and the front water port was completely blocked off like it should be.

 

Yes that is OK

In longitudinal mounted engines(Ranger) Coolant flow goes from water pump thru one side of the block and that head, and comes out the top/front of that head to intake manifold, where it crosses over to the REAR of the other sides head and block, and goes forward to the water pump's intake

In transverse mounted engines(FWD) the coolant crosses over at the front of both heads and exits at the rear of the engine