Transmission cooler

[Superman99]

Hey, i am starting to put my c-body back toghter and i was thinking of just running a seperate cooler (like something from Summit) and then skipping my radiator. I dont want to mess with the hard lines and would rather just avoid them. Any advice on this idea? Also can i just use a frame mounted cooler so my lines will be ran short?
TIA,
Paul

[Mister Fiberglass]

a couple of points that you might want to consider..........

IF this car is a cruiser.....don't worry about toooo big of a cooler.

BUT if it is a street/strip car ......... run a 8,000 pounder at the MOST but that would depend on the converter and gear combo.

[PLUM_72]

Skipping the radiator will also drop the temp of your coolant, therefore the engine runs cooler. I would be careful about using rubber hose for the entire length of trans line. Most guys that run flexable tranny cooler lines are using braided teflon. Teflon will withstand the heat and oil much better than rubber. I like the low buck route myself, I've bend up metal line and only used a small piece of power steering hose for going into the cooler.

[Superman99]

Well I was thinking of running a perma-cool frame mounted trans cooler. Since it will be right next to the tranny it will be a short run. I was thinking of using braided stainless steel, but i think even rubber will be fine for the short lenght of the runs. Does this sound like it will work. Anyone have any experiance with this cooler?
TIA
Paul

[Mister Fiberglass]

How much air flow is around where you are thinking on putting it?

The perma-cool is a decent piece.

[Superman99]

Well this unit, (if your not familiar with it) mounts to the frame, so i would just mount it to the side of the frame rails parallel with the tranny. It wouldnt have air forced though it like the radiator up front, but it is made to be underneath so i assume it doesnt need the force of air pushged though it. I am attaching a pic of what it looks like.

cooler

[Mister Fiberglass]

Did you notice that this cooler is specific for street rods? now that is a small cooler !!.....and for a lite-weight car !!

You have a C-body ?.......it is just my opinion BUT I would not run something that was not at least 5 times that size.

[Superman99]

Ya i see what you mean. Do you have any ideas of one that i could use that would help to avoid runnig lines all over the place? The shorter the run the better.
Any help would be great
TIA
Paul

[Mister Fiberglass]

I would plumb it UP FRONT. And use either copper or alum lines. They bend and conform EZ and you can tuck them up and hang them nicely.

[Superman99]

Where do you recommend me getting the tubing? Is this something i can get locally or do i need to order it?
Thanks a ton
Paul

[Mister Fiberglass]

The copper tubing?(probably the better choice) - from a larger hardware store.

Alum tubing?............Moroso or Mr Gasket.

[70 net440]

When I worked in a tranny shop, we always ran both the rad cooler and an add on cooler in series for heavy towing apps. Heat kills whether it's an engine, tranny or whatever. If you use an add on cooler only you should mount it up front or put a fan on it. You can get steel brake line at the parts house. You can bend it with a tubing bender or your hands. It's really not too hard, just be patient. If you can get the car up on a lift it's a lot easier. You will have to change the fittings on the trans but the flare makes a good hose barb for the rubber hose on the cooler end. I think Year One makes pre bent lines but they are spendy.

[rumblefish360]

The best way to go about this is to use the aftermarket cooler after the stock unit. Mount the cooler in front of the rad.
Use the stock lines to move the fluid along.
Rubber lines are fine and a worm clamp works great.