Thread: Trans cooler mounting location options?

Tweet

Seems the TH350 in my '29 coupe has been cooking fluid lately

After about an hour of driving in traffic, I get a mild shudder in 2nd and 3rd when I give her the beans

I don't have a proper gauge, so I checked the fluid with a temp gun after cruising last night and saw 210* off the dipstick

I'd like to install an auxiliary cooler, but space is pretty tight along the rails and there's zero room near the motor (it's possible, but not without looking like dog$#!t)

I could probably get away with adding a slimline fin style cooler along the rails, but doubt it would really do much to aid in cooling

I figure a proper cooler with a fan mounted under the trunk would do better for cooling, but will I have any problems with the pump pushing fluid that far back

I agree, the cooler with the fan would be better.... It would seem that on a coupe the distance from the trans to the trunk would be less then the distance from the trans to the front on a lot of cars...... I'm no automatic tranny expert, but it sure seems like it should work fine mounted in the rear.

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

I agree, the cooler with the fan would be better.... It would seem that on a coupe the distance from the trans to the trunk would be less then the distance from the trans to the front on a lot of cars...... I'm no automatic tranny expert, but it sure seems like it should work fine mounted in the rear.

1. Agree with Dave.
2. Most any cooler will work if there is sufficient airflow through the core. A friend of mine mounted a cooler right up against the floor (flat, with no air going through it) and cooked a C4. It was acting as a fluid reservoir, not a cooler.

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

I agree, the cooler with the fan would be better.... It would seem that on a coupe the distance from the trans to the trunk would be less then the distance from the trans to the front on a lot of cars...... I'm no automatic tranny expert, but it sure seems like it should work fine mounted in the rear.

The idea was actually to use the auxiliary cooler in conjunction with the one in the radiator, so it's getting twice the cooling, but it's also twice the distance

Would I have problems with the pump pushing fluid this far?

Originally Posted by techinspector1

1. Agree with Dave.
2. Most any cooler will work if there is sufficient airflow through the core. A friend of mine mounted a cooler right up against the floor (flat, with no air going through it) and cooked a C4. It was acting as a fluid reservoir, not a cooler.

Would a 1" gap between the trunk floor be enough for proper flow?

I want to make it as hidden as possible

I don't think I'd even bother using the radiator cooler with a fin/plate cooler with a fan!!!! I've run the fan cooler by itself on many cars and trucks, even a tow rig or two, with absolutely no problems.....

Will you be mounting it with the fan towards the trunk floor, or the fins toward the floor???? With the fan towards the floor, it should be able to draw plenty of air....with the fins toward the floor, I don't think an inch would be adequate.....

I also usually add in a stone deflector in front of the fan, just a little L bracket the width of the cooler, to the assembly....

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

I don't think I'd even bother using the radiator cooler with a fin/plate cooler with a fan!!!! I've run the fan cooler by itself on many cars and trucks, even a tow rig or two, with absolutely no problems.....

Any suggestions on which cooler to get?

I was looking at this one...

Derale Cooling Products 13700 - Derale Performance Electra-Cool Remote Fluid Coolers - Overview - SummitRacing.com

Will you be mounting it with the fan towards the trunk floor, or the fins toward the floor???? With the fan towards the floor, it should be able to draw plenty of air....with the fins toward the floor, I don't think an inch would be adequate.....

I guess that would depend if the fan is a puller or a pusher

I figured if I mounted the fins toward the floor with the fan on the bottom, the fan would pull air through gap...

I also usually add in a stone deflector in front of the fan, just a little L bracket the width of the cooler, to the assembly....

I was actually thinking more of a scoop to draw more air across the fins

Yup, I've used that cooler, good unit!

With the fins toward the floor, think I might want another half inch to an inch clearance from the floor..... Might want to see what a few others think though......

Did a bit more searching and found some with built in thermp-switches....

Should I spend the extra cash to get one or will I be ok just tapping off of the radiator fan circuit? (Centech adjustable)

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Yup, I've used that cooler, good unit!

With the fins toward the floor, think I might want another half inch to an inch clearance from the floor..... Might want to see what a few others think though......

Ditto on what Dave said - good unit but really needs to be protected with a rock guard. Hot fluid is one thing - loss of fluid is almost always catastrophic and can cause a fire.

Let us see a picture of what you end up with - I'm always amazed at people's creativity in mounting ancillary components!

Regards,
Glenn

Think this econo version will be sufficient for my trans?

Derale 13730 Derale Econo-Cool Remote Oil & Transmission Cooler

I'm thinking the space behind the trans on the passenger side between the frame rails will work, but it's pretty tight (roughly 11" x 14")

Going by their dimensions, it should fit in there just fine, Snake!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Going by their dimensions, it should fit in there just fine, Snake!

I know it will fit, what I meant was would it be sufficient in cooling being a smaller a smaller unit the previous one I posted? (used alone, without the cooler in the radiator)

With the fan, I think it will handle the cooling just fine! A light car in street use won't generate a lot of trans heat anyway....

I'll take your word for it

Ordering now

[QUOTE=98 SNAKE EATER;463151]Any suggestions on which cooler to get?
I was looking at this one...
Derale Cooling Products 13700 - Derale Performance Electra-Cool Remote Fluid Coolers - Overview - SummitRacing.com


" I guess that would depend if the fan is a puller or a pusher "

With DC you can reverse the wire connections and change the rotation for push or pull, all good.