Going to the salvage yard tomorrow, looking for an engine oil pan.
After some research, it appears oil pans from other model Fords may be comparable but I do not see any information that verifies it.
Where and how does one verify compatible replacement parts?
The salvage yard will use an interchange manual. At one time it was a large series of books but is now a computer program. Each major and some not so major component of a vehicle was given a number. The number is then cataloged and all vehicles that use the same part are listed. When I have doubts I'll check several on line sources of parts. If one source says a 96 Taurus and a 97 Sable part interchange I look up the part for each at several vendors. If each source lists matching part numbers I assume they are the same. There can be confusion as sometimes manufacturers will modify a part mid model year so they will interchange allowing them reduce inventory. This means that an early 1996 part may not fit but a late 1996 part will. I would bring the part and make sure they look the same.
