no, you don't have to but it makes it a whole lot easier
You'll need to either pull the engine or the transaxle. The engine would be far less trouble, but it will still be a bit of trouble.
If the radiator fan won't work, it could be the clutch is bad. Radiator fans on the large V8's are supposed to "freewheel" if the engine is cold, and engage when the engine warms up. If the clutch isn't engaging, get a new one. It'a a simple replacment process, just pull the top half of the radiator fan shroud, pull the 4 bolts that hold the clutch to the water pump, then replace clutch.
To replace the transmission clutch on any stick shift vehicle, remove the engine and/or transmission. The engine and transmission must be separated since the clutch is between them. Pull the flywheel and have it resurfaced. replace the flywheel, following recommended procedures. Use a new pilot bushing/glan nut. Replace the clutch disk using a NEW pressure plate assembly and be certain to align the disk using a pilot shaft. Re-install the engine/transmission in the reverse order that you took it/them out.
If it will go into gear when the engine is off but not when the engine is running, the clutch is not disengaging. It could be the clutch, possibly warped or put in wrong, or it could be the hydraulic clutch mechanism.
Manuel transmission? You need a new clutch.
There are generally 3 problems that indicate that the clutch has failed, or is about two. 1. Violent juddering of the vehicle as you pull away from a stand-still, and perhaps also when changing gear. 2. Inability to select any gear. An effect similar to not actually having depressed the clutch pedal at all. (The clutch is failing to disengage.) 3. The car does no pull away, or does so extremely slowly, and engine speed rises when you try to accelerate, but road speed does not increase. (The clutch is slipping. it feels similar to driving an automatic car,). 1 & 2 you will notice. 3 is easy to test. Engage the hand-brake/Parking brake. Select first gear, and try and pull away normally, slowly. If the clutch is good the car engine will stall. If the clutch is worn out you will be able to take your foot of the clutch pedal while in first gear, with the engine running, and the car will not move. (do not do this for more than 3 or 4 seconds, or you may do more damage!)
take the cover off pull the old ones off slide new clutch on then put the cover back on.
Its self ajusting! all you do is pull the peddle up and press it down
The clutch cable has a retaining nut on each end. Loosen the retaining nuts. The clutch cable will pull out. Reverse the process to install the new cable.
im thinking you need a new clutch.
pull the trans take out the old clutch and put a new one in then put it back together. or do what i do i buy a book on my ranger and fix it myself
when you find that when you acelerate you hear the engine noise but cant feel the increase in speed means that clutch plate is worn and is slipping.