Headers, cat back exhuast, screamin demon coil pack, an intake, along with a tune is a good start. Run full synthetic oil if you can. Do a seafoam treatment to the gas tank or through the intake. Etc.

 

Welcome to the forum

2000 Ranger had 3 engine options, 2.5l 4cyl, and two V6 options, 3.0l OHV and 4.0l OHV

Which engine do you have?

 

 

2000 Ranger only had 2.5l I4 2V as a 4cyl option, and that was used from 1998 to 2001.5

So either your year is wrong or you mis-read your engine type

In late 2001 Ford switch over to the 2.3l Mazda L engines, they are DOHC and do have 16 valves so 4V
These were designed for cars, so design is for side to side, transverse mounting.
Ford called it the 2.3l Duratec engine, and it was used in many Ford Cars, and in the Ranger Truck

There are performance upgrades, read here: Products and product developments - Ford Focus Forum, Ford Focus ST Forum, Ford Focus RS Forum

These parts are for transverse mounted engines, side to side, i.e. Ford Focus
Yours is Longitudinal mount, front to back, links to suppliers will be the same you just need to tell them its for Ford Ranger to make sure it will fit