My electric fan (a Spal brand) is something I hear in town but not at cruising speed as it shuts off when enough air is passing over the radiator. I have it set to kick on around 185F. Then I have a pusher (also a Spal) which runs any time the A/C is running. It is a smaller capacity and 1.5" smaller in diameter. Sitting out front and being a pusher fan it doesn't make as much noise.

You have to work at getting the cab quieter but some things can help. Another area that seems to transmit noise is the metal on the outer side of the kick panels. I buy spray on undercoating (Permatex brand is okay) and layer it on to about 1/8" thick or so.

When I was younger and got to ride in several of these trucks when they were new-ish they never seemed too loud to me. A few rattles but usually that was due to something under the seat, in the bed, etc. The whine of first gear was an unmistakable sound I'll never forget. I remember one an uncle owned which had very little "stuff" in it that was very quiet. I think it was a 1950 or 1951. His had a radio and we would listen to it all the time. However, I have decided the world was a quieter place back then. Sort of like the first days of Covid. You could hear birds again.

~ Jon
1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end