HELP!!!
These head gaskets that I bought for mi 2000 3.0 seem to each be missing an elongated coolant thermosiphon port hole. The heads have them. The head-to-block surfaces has them. The original gaskets have them. EVERY pic I look at for these (Amazon, part stores, etc.) is the same (with only one elongated port per gasket, rather than the two). Yet, the originals I took off DO have the two holes each. What's up? Are these right, just different??? They fit, other than that.
And, if these are the correct ones, do the ports go in the front or back. And, WHY are they like this?

 

Welcome to the forum

All heads and blocks have more coolant passages between them than are used, holes are to get the Sand out after they are cast.

Head gaskets are different depending on the engines cooling system setup.
The Ranger 3.0l is an NS(north south) mount, Rear wheel drive(RWD)
In Taurus's the 3.0l was an EW(east west) transverse mounting(FWD)

Ranger has both radiator hoses at the front of the engine, so coolant flows to the back and then back to the front
Taurus coolant flows from front to the back and then out to radiator

So each would use a different head gasket to direct the flow for best circulation.

3.0l Ranger head gaskets also have a left and right and UP, written on the gasket
Good look here at what you should see: Rebuilding The Ford 3.0L Engine

Toward bottom of article

If you are missing the slots then you have a Taurus gasket not a Ranger gasket

 

I am also having the same problem. What did you end up doing? I understand why the gasket is like that but I still can't find the correct gasket with both valleys open.