explorer overheating.. what am i missing?

OK fellas. My explorer is overheating like a MO FO!
First off I have a 1997 Ford Explorer 4.0ltr automatic 2wd.

Anyhow, I noticed the other day that I was getting much warmer than normal so I stopped and checked the fluid, which was normal. Then it progressively started getting worse but figured out if I was driving and it started to rapidly move towards the H I could accelerate past 2,000 RPM and the truck would immediately cool down for a minute, and then start overheating again. After limping it home this way I was sold that the Fan Clutch had gone out. I replaced it today and on my trial run coolant bubbled out of my reserve tank and overheated my truck. I didn't even try to accelerate to cool it off just let it sit for a while until I could get it home safely. Any suggestions as to what the issue could be? I'm sure I'm just overlooking something restarted. However, my oil has good consistency, water pump is not getting any leakage or showing signs of death, and both top and bottom hoses are piping hot when I pulled over today.

Thanks for any help, its greatly appreciated. I'm getting pissed at this truck and just want it to work right so I can trade it in!

maybe a sticky thermostat?

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lol.. you think its old wait till you hear how many miles are on her.

Where would I find a preasure pump to find these leaks? The thermostate is defenatly next in line for obvious reasons, but i'm praying its not a cracked head. I just found it wierd how it spit all that water out of the reseve tank like that, and when it cooled back down it all went back into the radiator/motor.

check the thermostat -I have seen the thermostats come apart ...and also have seen them stick.....

if it is a 4.0l sohc -remove the cover plate (4-7mm screws) then the 3 10mm bolts of the thermostat housing. The thermostat has a rubber oring for a seal.....pretty easy to do.....just dont crossthread the bolts when you put it back together...

defently sounds like a worn out thermostat.... its not opening properly... thus not allowing the water to flow when it builds up heat....

But i don't see how both upper and lower radiator hoses are so freakin hot if the thermostat is closed. Its only a few bucks and about a 1/2 hour worth of time, so I'm gonna try it out first thing in the morning. thanks for the recomendations
i'll keep you all informed

Mullet

If thermostat is OK, and you're not losing any coolant (like with a broken head gasket), I'd do a chemical flush to the radiator, or let a radiator shop handle it.

welp.. swapped out the thermostat and did a coolant flush and everything seems to be running normal again. thanks for all the recomendations and sudgestions

mullet