I have used a screwdriver in the past to pry the followers out, and in. Lots easier with Evan's tool though, and that tool is pretty easy to make. That design, though, can get challenging to use on some of the followers (brackets, coils, etc in the way). I actually made a tool that mimics the Lisle tool, hook on one end, goes over the follower. Can also compress valve springs with it.
yes, looks like you have the infamous 2.3L Lima ditched camshaft. Appears to be a slider cam (non roller). The changes made in engine oil a long time ago are not condusive to "life" of a slider (non-roller) camshaft and that's what you end up with, ditched lobes. When the lobes wear down the HLA's will come up out of their bores a little bit, and can contribute to valve train noise. Usually the noise from ditched sliders is more like a sewing machine noise rather than a slower frequency tap-tap-tap-tap.
The good news, find a 90-94 2.3 in a junkyard and rob the cam and followers. It works fine with speed density and MAF. 95 (IIRC) they changed the valve stem diameter and the followers were a little different and won't work on earlier 2.3's. Using the roller cam and matching correct followers rewards you also with a few more horsepower (like maybe 10hp) and a better/more stable idle. I like it.
yes to the Ranger gasket. Use the Motorcraft version, the aftermarket ones always seem to leak. F57Z-6584-A, as I recall.