All 1996–2004 S-10 trucks with the 4.3 V6 come from the factory with a core that is less than 1" thick. The heavy-duty replacement radiator will cool better than the stock radiator.

The stock radiators (with the thin cores) cool well when used with the stock engine-driven cooling fan. However, the stock engine-driven cooling fan consumes a lot of power, which reduces fuel-mileage, and performance. In addition, the stock fan is quite loud.

When electric cooling fans are used with the stock radiator, the trucks tend to run hot in traffic when the air-conditioning is on. When using electric cooling fans, the thick radiator cores used in the radiators sold by Stealth Conversions cool much better than the stock radiator.

If you want to improve fuel-mileage and performance, a fan clutch assembly from a 1993–1997 Ford Explorer with the 4.0 V6 can be installed into the 1996-2004 S-10 trucks with the 4.3 V6. The Ford fan assembly is more efficient, and much quieter, but slightly less powerful than the S-10 fan assembly. This fan assembly is 18" in diameter (compared to 19" for the stock S-10 fan). The Ford unit weighs about 1-1/4 lbs less than the 4.3 V6 fan assembly.

The Ford fan clutch is 1 inch shorter than the S-10 fan clutch, and it positions the fan about 1/2" closer to the engine, which improves efficiency in the S-10 Truck by placing the fan blade behind the "ring" section of the shroud. The stock S-10 fan blade protrudes forward of the "ring" and some of the air is thrown off the front of the blade and back into the sides of the shroud — decreasing efficiency.

FORD EXPLORER FAN INSTALLED IN 1996–2004 V6 S-10

This is the Ford Explorer fan installed into the S-10. It may appear slightly "undersize" in the shroud, but it does a very good job of cooling the S-10. When used with the Heavy-Duty replacement radiator, the engine will not run hot, even when the outside temperature is over 105°F.