Somethings to think about is how hot it gets in the summer and what conditions it is driven in during those high temp days. If you are in a cool area in summertime a stock e-fan may get the job done but lets say you are in a hotter area and doing city driving. These conditions the stock e-fan may not be enough to keep it cool enough as the vehicle is moving at a slow pace so less air is forced into the radiator and you are relying on that e-fan to pull more air through the radiator.
I am no expert on e-fan setups or how much the stock e-fan can draw through a radiator. I am giving this info for you guys to consider while you are looking into swapping over. Good luck and I am watching to see what your results are while I am also considering the swap. my 3-slow with 3.45 gears needs every HP it can get. lol
Definitely something to consider, I haven't been able to do any testing at ambient temps above 15C yet, or heavy towing/mountain passes.
However for now, I do think it's more effective than just a clutch fan for a few reasons:
-from simply just "feeling" the air pressure generated by both fans, I would say they're certainly comparable
-the shroud design from the 2.3's is simply better, not only does the e-fan sit much deeper in the shroud, and closer to the radiator than the clutch fan. It's also sealed to the radiator on the top and bottom, meaning the only air being pulled is through the radiator and not from above or below it
-some efficiency gains from less drag, this is probably negligible, but overall less engine work = less heat
-some thermostat kit designs like mine allow for the fan to run constantly when the ignition is on, this is ideal for towing or heavy load applications considering the transmission cooler is typically mounted directly in front of the radiator, and I don't believe our transmissions have temperature sensors to warn us before they start overheating
The fan installed in the shroud is a standard Motorcraft radiator fan, and not a reduced power unit just to cover the needs of the A/C. If it isn't sufficient however, the 2.3's shroud overall is a welcome addition for better efficiency, and an aftermarket fan could be mounted in place.