Transmission Cooler Help
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Transmission Cooler Help Looking to put a transmission cooler on my car and have a few questions. First off the car is a '99 TransAM auto obviously. What size cooler and brand fits best on these cars and where have you mounted them? Not looking to mount down by the air dam or as I hear "dope" mounting, I want it in front of the condenser most likely. Do I need to install a thermostat valve, or just run open all the time?
I also heard that I shouldn't run the fluid threw the coolant radiator like stock set up. Why is that? I would think having it run threw the radiator then threw the trans cooler and back would be good and help cool it down even more. What's the scoop on that?
Any pictures of peoples install would be great. Thanks for the help and idea's in advance.
I also heard that I shouldn't run the fluid threw the coolant radiator like stock set up. Why is that? I would think having it run threw the radiator then threw the trans cooler and back would be good and help cool it down even more. What's the scoop on that?
Any pictures of peoples install would be great. Thanks for the help and idea's in advance.
Last edited by 93BlackT/A; Feb 27, 2015 at 03:45 PM.
I ran a hayden 405 infront of the condenser and tied it into my stock cooler for a bit until the 4l80 swap happended. Now Its got 6an fittings from the trans to 3/8 rubber trans lines straight into the hayden cooler. Its not gonna be a daily driver running in cold weather very much so Im not worried about the fluid not heating up to running temp quickly like the stock cooler is supposed to help do.
Run the biggest cooler you can. Many people run a b&m 70264 which is a 24k gvw stacked plate style cooler so it does a good job cooling. I currently have a large tube and fin style cooler mounted on my radiator and will be switching to the b&m I mentioned.
The main benefit of bypassing the stock cooler in the radiator is it cools better. The stock cooler heats up the fluid quick and temps generally stay higher than if you had the cooler by itself.
Ive had it set up both ways, with and without the stock cooler and the temps with the stock one were always in the 190 range. After I had the cooler by itself temps went down a good amount and would cool down alot quicker.
The main benefit of bypassing the stock cooler in the radiator is it cools better. The stock cooler heats up the fluid quick and temps generally stay higher than if you had the cooler by itself.
Ive had it set up both ways, with and without the stock cooler and the temps with the stock one were always in the 190 range. After I had the cooler by itself temps went down a good amount and would cool down alot quicker.
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From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Looking to put a transmission cooler on my car and have a few questions. First off the car is a '99 TransAM auto obviously. What size cooler and brand fits best on these cars and where have you mounted them? Not looking to mount down by the air dam or as I hear "dope" mounting, I want it in front of the condenser most likely. Do I need to install a thermostat valve, or just run open all the time?
I also heard that I shouldn't run the fluid threw the coolant radiator like stock set up. Why is that? I would think having it run threw the radiator then threw the trans cooler and back would be good and help cool it down even more. What's the scoop on that?
Any pictures of peoples install would be great. Thanks for the help and idea's in advance.
I also heard that I shouldn't run the fluid threw the coolant radiator like stock set up. Why is that? I would think having it run threw the radiator then threw the trans cooler and back would be good and help cool it down even more. What's the scoop on that?
Any pictures of peoples install would be great. Thanks for the help and idea's in advance.
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Anyone have luck squeezing in the B&M 70274 SuperCooler? Also how does the Moroso 41205 cooler work compared to the B&M plate style?
I want to make sure I have enough room for the trans cooler and oil cooler to fit. Anyone ever run the engine oil threw the stock trans cooler in the radiator?
I want to make sure I have enough room for the trans cooler and oil cooler to fit. Anyone ever run the engine oil threw the stock trans cooler in the radiator?
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
I have a 274, love it. It has threaded fittings so you'll need to account for that during your install.
Braided line install:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/automatic...oler-line.html
Mine is in the bumper with a fan mounted on it.
Braided line install:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/automatic...oler-line.html
Mine is in the bumper with a fan mounted on it.
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I have a 274, love it. It has threaded fittings so you'll need to account for that during your install.
Braided line install:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/automatic...oler-line.html
Mine is in the bumper with a fan mounted on it.
Braided line install:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/automatic...oler-line.html
Mine is in the bumper with a fan mounted on it.
I wonder if I can get that cooler in front of the condenser mounted like a stock set-up? I like the bigger cooler for sure!
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What would be the reason to go with such a larger line like the -8AN vs the stock size of -6AN? Anyone know what size ID and OD -8AN and -6AN are?
Last edited by 93BlackT/A; Mar 3, 2015 at 12:11 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
No, its better to keep it in cold climates. You dont want your trans fluid hot, rather you want to keep it as cool as possible as long as possible. Example, your trans runs 190 most times which is fine, mine runs 130 most times, the enemy is say anything over 220. Well one or two passes at the drag strip and youll most likely be 220 or higher where I wont be. Transmissions take a while to cool down when shut off, so yours will still be up there even if you let the car cool an hour. I wont have to worry about it. See the difference? Bottom line is, with the stock cooler it will most likely run at or near coolant temp since they run together in the radiator, and extra cooler will slow the warming but it will reach it eventually. Seems counter productive in most cases.
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Joined: Jan 2013
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From: Thibodaux LA
i just installed on a few weeks ago. got it for free. its a plate style. i got the line and barb fitting from the auto parts store. drilled holes in the bottom of the core support where the bottom of the radiator is. there is a metal lip about 1.5 inches. marked and drilled the holes. used the metal clips gm uses for body panels. http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/1_4...pas2969-25.htm (see the link) and the bolts that go with them(had several spares) slid the clips over the holes and bolted the cooler down. very sturdy. ran my lines (kept the stock cooler) through the front lip( just drilled 2 holes) very clean install and not too hard
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From: Ann Arbor, MI
A 3/8" line is .14 square inches (.375 squared).
A 1/2" line is .25 square inches (.500 squared).
Therefore the 1/2" (inside) line has about 80% more capacity.
However, as mentioned that is "theoretically". The cooling fluid is restricted through the TCC valve in the pump. The stock line is even smaller at 5/16".
I run AN-6 Teflon lines and even closely spaced runs at the track only raise my trans temp to about 195F.
Whether you chose AN-6 or AN-8, teflon lines have a smaller outside diameter which makes routing easier.
A 1/2" line is .25 square inches (.500 squared).
Therefore the 1/2" (inside) line has about 80% more capacity.
However, as mentioned that is "theoretically". The cooling fluid is restricted through the TCC valve in the pump. The stock line is even smaller at 5/16".
I run AN-6 Teflon lines and even closely spaced runs at the track only raise my trans temp to about 195F.
Whether you chose AN-6 or AN-8, teflon lines have a smaller outside diameter which makes routing easier.