do you have to shorten the oil pan on the 2.3???

no, i'd raise the motor before doing that. my truck sat on the pan when it layed out

mine is beat to a disiarible heaight with a hamnmer.its about 1/6 of an inch off the ground.

You can do it on the 2.6 because they have a 5 qt. motor you only lose one i did it to mime.On ssm there is a guy that did do it to a 2.3 you can look it up on there. Hope that helps.