Frame Rail Transmission coolers

[gmcferon]

I am trying to get rid of some of the clutter under my hood. I presently have a B&M transmission cooler it is 11"X11". It works great but I am contemplating a frame rail cooler. There are a several models Jegs has a "pretty" one, Permacool has a few different models don't know if it would be a good replacement. I want to avoid the small ones with the fans as I don't want any more fan noise than I already have. I also don't want to loose the cooling

Suggestions appreciated.

[lonewolf85]

Some times aftermarket trans coolers hurt more than they help.The engineers that designed your trans designed for long life reliability and smooth operation at engine coolant temperature. The clearances were designed for a normalized trans. If you install a aftermarket cooler in front of your radiator or some other place where it dosent run at the temperature where all the clutches drums case and other componets were designed to work at what good is that?For most applications the stock in the radaitor cooler will do an decient job. 56 ford PKs and some other vechicles had a small cooler that fit next to the transmission and some piping was run from the heater hoses to cool the fluid. Randall

[Rick_L]

I think you need a fan if you mount your cooler under the car.

I think that lonewolf's comments are also spot on.

And there are some aftermarket companies saying your transmission temperature shouldn't exceed 175º F. That's hogwash, all OEM installation these days don't do that.

I also think that before, during, and after you change the cooler you need a transmission temp gauge. You may not have a problem. And as said you may cause one, especially with an under car cooler and no fan.

Do you have a gauge and does it indicates high temperature?

[gmcferon]

Where do you put the sending unit for a transmission temp guage? Is it inline. I am a little overprotective and think cool is better. probably wrong thinking however I am pushing this TH 400 with over 600HP so I thought it would be good protection.

I will be replacing the radiator on the rebuild so maybe the best thing would be just find the biggest one I can put in with transmission fittings.

My car has never over heated it is a blown 454 and I drove it from Idaho to Orlando in a couple days. The hottest it ever got was 190. On the Montana Baun. I understand I should be running it much hotter.

I don't plan on racing it, well. not often anyway.

I am doing a lot under the hood to keep things cool. High volume thermostat. Header coating, better water pump, CoolFlex hoses.

What operating temp should I be aiming for? I have both Jegs and Summit catalogs open beside me and don't see much for trans temp guages????


Thanks for your input

[lonewolf85]

You can mount a burbon tube type guage to the pan if you weld a fitting. Just be sure it will be immersed in the fluid. A water temp guage will work it only knows how hot it is not wether it is in oil or water.The temp should run within 10to 20 degrees of the engine coolant about 190 to 210 degrees for most applications. Lots of semi trucks used electrical temp guages for the trans and rear ends. Also you can get a pyrometer from one for exhaust temp a must if you have a turbo charged engine. Randall

[the4x4pig]

Autometer sells many trans temp gauges. I have one in my truck.
Here is a page or more of them that Summit sells.

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...115+4294905502

There are several opinions about trans temp requirments. I would ask the folks that built yours, they prob know best. Either way a gauge is very impotant so that you know if you even have an issue. It can also warn you of impending doom if on a long trip and the trans temps start acting abnormal.

[MCB55-210]

Hadn't even crossed my mind to think about a trans temp gauge-since i'm early in the building stage I know I'll be sure to install one. Good info!

[bigbopper]

Originally Posted by gmcferon

I am trying to get rid of some of the clutter under my hood. I presently have a B&M transmission cooler it is 11"X11". It works great but I am contemplating a frame rail cooler. There are a several models Jegs has a "pretty" one, Permacool has a few different models don't know if it would be a good replacement. I want to avoid the small ones with the fans as I don't want any more fan noise than I already have. I also don't want to loose the cooling

Suggestions appreciated.

Hello, a good friend of mine came up with this idea, he is running a very strong 454/400 turbo set up and I decided to use it also. We are still using the cooler built in to the radiator. Do not know/remember the name brand but it was less than $25 on eBay.
hope this helps

[gmcferon]

I will be interested at how hot the passenger side floorpans get.

That is excatly the model and position I was thinking of using. I hav'nt decided on a radiator yet but this looks like a good approach. So the wife gets hot feet.

[keith]

Originally Posted by bigbopper

Hello, a good friend of mine came up with this idea, he is running a very strong 454/400 turbo set up and I decided to use it also. We are still using the cooler built in to the radiator. Do not know/remember the name brand but it was less than $25 on eBay.
hope this helps

Bigbopper, I seen your thread about taking the car to the shop so I went in search of the cooler I seen pictured on the frame rail. I kinda like the looks of that one also.

I believe I found it, or one really close to the same design.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

Moroso makes a frame rail cooler that is filtered. I like that idea also.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku