You may want to do some checking before you do that. The old fan with shroud moves a lot of air and you would need a pretty high volume electric fan to replace it. If the rest of the system is in good shape, the stock fan should be fine as it was originally designed to handle the task. An add-on electric fan that only kicks on when needed is a mod that some people do to handle summer temps with A/C on,in slow traffic,etc.. Since you're not now driving in high summer temps, your stock cooling system should be doing the job. IMO you first need to check all the other factors that may be causing your problem.

 

How long has that been the case?!

 

Thanks for the confirmation. I didn't want to screw with the fan unless someone here really thought it would help. I see it as a bit of a bandaid approach at this point.

 

Still the case! I wish it was that easy at this point.

 

As a quick update. The ambient temperature here in Canada is dropping so it's not running as hot. I've taken it on short 1hr trips, but it's temps is at about 60-70%.

I was driving to the lake yesterday and the engine bogged and wouldn't accelerate, almost like I had ran out of gas or had a clogged filter. When I idled down to about 80kms, I was able to maintain engine conditions and drive normally. This was bizarre because I hadn't experienced this since doing the rad or really testing the engine. When I drove home this morning, same route, I wasn't able to replicate the condition. Now, this evening, I took it on a short drive and I was able to get it to bog down and loose power in last gear again.

Fuel filter is clean.

I also have had a rattle coming from my engine for the entire summer now (which I always assumed was from my carb + manual choke cable and didn't mention it in my post). I'm thinking this is actually coming from inside the engine and is possibly either timing, or vacuum? I took the doghouse off and I can't get the rattle sound when in park, this only happens on the highway when I'm in/out of the last gear. Pedal to the metal. I took one vacuum line off (going to the trans) and I had good suction.

I feel this could be the new source of why I tend to run hot! More to come, not sure what to check next.

 

Ok found this little hose on the back of the manifold (I think) sucking air, not plugged..
This photo shows me plugging it with an Allen bit, but found it open to the elements and was that short. The hose adjacent to the one circled goes to trans.

​​​https://ibb.co/99f80sg
https://ibb.co/4jbBHPK (zoomed out with random black hose extension on it)

​​​​​​I also have a sketchy aftermarket cruise control hanging under the dash. (https://ibb.co/B35LQgP) It was always missing the module but I always wondered what it did. I have a feeling this hose went to the servo but was dismantled and never hooked back up? But this also could run to a nipple on the carb?

When I plug the hose with my finger the engine comes down a couple hundred rpms. Sounds better honestly.

Pinging can still be heard at higher rpms in last gear.

 

Is there a vacuum hose diagram under the hood?

Sixto
07 E350 5.4 186K miles

 

A vacuum leak like that will cause it to run lean and may be part of your overheating problem. If it's been sucking air for a long time with dirt getting into the engine, that can cause a build up of carbon which can cause detonation (pinging).

I'd want to pull the plugs and read them to check for signs of overheating.

Also check for coolant if you suspect bad head gasket. Check the "Reading sparkplugs" link.

Did you do a full tuneup when you first got it? Timing checked?

https://www.google.com/search?client...eaating+engine

You need to search online for the vac lines diagram unless you can get a hold of an old Motor manual at a library,etc.

You might try Vannin.com forums as they seem to deal more with older vans.

 

Out of curiosity, does this van have an AC unit?? If it does you may want to get a garden hose and flush the fins. If they're clogged, air cannot pass to the radiator as it should. Make sure your fan shroud is in place and that you have all you air diverters in place especially between the front of the van and the core support. A lot of air gets lost from going through the radiator if the air diverters aren't in place.