tranny cooler

Discussion in 'The "Juice Box"' started by simon1243, Apr 22, 2005.

  1. simon1243

    simon1243 Got Torque?

    how do you hook up a tranny cooler.ie what hose to what fitting. do you still use the cooler in the rad as well as the external one? does anyone have any pictures of how they routed there lines? would you need a thermostatic valve to keep the fluid at the right temp? any and all info on tranny cooling would be very helpful! im not really all that nice to mine and i would like to keep it alive as long as possible. thanks curtis
     
  2. 462CID

    462CID Buick newbie since '89

    Upper hose to upper fitting. The tranny cooler is just a thermal transfer thing, there's no 'wrong' way for the fluid to go, at least on mine

    You disconnect the rad lines that go to the tranny, attach the included soft lines to your existing lines, and hook up the lines to the tranny cooler

    It is possible to use the radiator cooler in addition to the external cooler. I didn't do it, but I may have the diagram someplace. Essentially you go from the upper connection on the external unit to the tranny, the bottom connection on the external unit goes to the upper radiator cooler hole, and the lower radiator cooler line goes to the tranny


    Line routing is very simple, but I don't have a pic

    The external tranny cooler sits in front of the radiator, attached to it and spaced from it by parts in the kit. I've seen no coolant temperature increase or radiator effectiveness decrease. I got the biggest one I could possibly get.

    No valving needed. The tranny fluid will still be warm enough in my experience. I'm not worried about too cool in the world of tranny fluid
     
  3. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

    I just put one on my car while putting in the 200-4R. I was told to get a big one and not use the one in the radiator.

    I got an 11"x11"x1.5" that is identical to the B&M one that sells for about $85 at Summit for $65 right from the manufacturer. Let me know if you would like me to dig out the receipt for the company's name and info.
     
  4. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    The recommended installation routes the fluid through the radiator cooler, then the auxiliary cooler you install. This ensures the fluid is not overcooled during the winter months. ATF has an optimum temperature between 175-225* I made a few brackets, and fastened my cooler to the rad support behind the grill. It is 100% efficient in this location.
     
  5. derek244

    derek244 Gold Level Contributor

    Larry, you never fail to amaze me. That cooler looks great!
     
  6. simon1243

    simon1243 Got Torque?

    thank you all for your input! i now have my weekend project! curtis
     
  7. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Thanks Derek,
    When I first got my GS, it was running hot. The trans cooler was up against the A/C condenser. I wanted to get it away from there, so I fabricated some brackets to mount it behind the grill. Made a small difference in coolant temps, but the Griffin Aluminum radiator did the trick for good.
     
  8. r0ckstarr

    r0ckstarr Well-Known Member

    To add to this thread. How do you hook up a tranny temperature guage?
     
  9. simon1243

    simon1243 Got Torque?

    thats another question i would also like an answer to
     
  10. Eric B

    Eric B John 3:16

    I have a trans temp gauge from Auto Meter (you can buy from Summit) and I drilled a seperate hole in the aluminum pan for the sending unit. Directions come with the gauge. :TU:
     
  11. NOTNSS

    NOTNSS Gold Level Contributor

    http://www.ptsnctb.com/

    Go to "Online Catalog", "Accessories", "Cooler Line Temp Gauge 'T'. $18.99

    Single wire off the 'T' to your gauge. It goes on the RETURN line. I've heard of folks putting a send unit on the pan plug but return line is preferred. I'm sure there are other ways but this is what I use.
     
  12. James P

    James P Founders Club Member

    Gary, just curious since I have no idea of how the internals of a trans work, but why the return line and not the output line? I would think the higher temp of the output line would give a better idea of the internal temp of the trans?
     
  13. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    This is from the Ron Sessions book.
     
  14. NOTNSS

    NOTNSS Gold Level Contributor

    Yup.. Mr. Sessions is the final word for me, except for where it's mounted. I don't think having it near the tranny is going to matter much and I doubt that would result in a reading lower than actual.

    Thanks Larry.
     
  15. simon1243

    simon1243 Got Torque?

    thanks again guys. i dont know what i would do without this board!
     
  16. simon1243

    simon1243 Got Torque?

    well i didnt get to installing my coller this weekend because i had to work on the ford. to make a long story short i decided i didnt like the cooler i bought so i returned it in hopes that they would have one with some moutning brackets. but everywhere i go they all have to same tranny coolers that all mount with those crappy little plastic things. so now i ask what is the best kind of cooler i can get that will have some mounting tabs? and what style is the best ie: tubes with fins or the factory style one that you would see on a hd truck?
     
  17. simon1243

    simon1243 Got Torque?

  18. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Curtis,
    Do you like the way I mounted my cooler? Sounds like what your looking for. You aren't going to find that out there. You have to do it your self. Make your own brackets.
     
  19. simon1243

    simon1243 Got Torque?

    i would but i dont have any metal fab tools. thanks for the info though larry your a great help to everyone on this board. and what goes around comes around! thanks curtis
     
  20. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    I don't either, just used a drill and some scrap metal I had laying around.
     

Share This Page