at most if i remember correctly you just need to lower the rack and pinion and perhaps raise the engine a bit .. it`s been forever since i had a 4 banger in a pinto ..  dont undo the steering at the column knuckle .. just unbolt it from the cross member and let it drop a bit ..

HA !!   it was about 1975 when i did one .. everything since has had some sort of V8 in it ..

This is where these front sump designs pay off. A lot of times a rear sump pan would hit the lower end of the bell housing. That said it can still be a pain to get old gaskets off cleanly and finagle the new gasket around the oil pick up. What works for me is to tie thread through a few of the bolt holes and gasket holes. That way when things get manipulated to get everything in place the gasket isn't falling off. Then, when a few of the bolts get installed you just cut the tread and pull it out.

I'm assuming the gasket is cork. The later 2.3's used a silicone gasket. Even though mine was 25 years old I reused it and never had a leak. Nearly 15 years ago that gasket was about $25. It is likely more now.

Thanks for the tips, never heard that one but makes sense, the gasket is cork, going to try and get done this weekend depending on weather