Alternate locations for transmisison cooler?

[6cylinderstepside]

If memory serves, I thought people have run aftermarket transmission coolers in other places besides mated to the radiator fins. Any suggestions?

[andrewmp6]

Take make one that has a fan on it so you could really mount it anywhere it can get air flow.

[Lokin4AReason]

put it in the wheel well covered w/ a metal mesh ( protecting it from road debris )

noticed this in a hod rod mag some year(s) ago and thought that it was a pretty cool idea

[old Rusty C10]

I bought a cab that had one mounted to the right floorboard

[Liberty]

FWIW I seem to remember mechanics weren't a huge fan on transmission coolers on our trucks.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Liberty

FWIW I seem to remember mechanics weren't a huge fan on transmission coolers on our trucks.

Keeping the trans @ constant ideal temps makes sense for ANY vehicle.... including our trucks. I kept mine mounted in front of the radiator but I moved it as far out as possible while still between the core support limitations. This allows more direct/undisturbed airflow for the a/c condenser & radiator. I also did the same for the oil cooler.

[77c10]

I bought one of those aluminum finned ones and have it mounted to the inside of the passenger side frame rail on my truck.

[6cylinderstepside]

The inside of the frame rail one is what I remember, I wouldn't feel comfortable with it on a wheel well or floor pan, I live out in the country where there are many gravel roads. As far as putting them on trucks I don't see the difference from a car except that it might be used for more heavy duty purposes in which case it would be more beneficial. At any rate, in my case I am going from a manual transmission to an automatic so either I replace the good radiator with a new one with a cooler, or I use the aftermarket cooler that I have sitting on the shelf. I guess I'll just put it in front of the radiator as recommended. Just wanted to see if there were any secrets out there. I like the frame rail idea but since I already have the cooler I am limited with where it will fit and I think it will be too big there.

Thanks for the replies!

[Axle]

I use a couple pieces of copper pipe (painted black) mounted vertically to the rad opening, and mounted the trans cooler to that.

The first transcooler I ran I used those through the rad straps, and ended up as most of you know with torn out radiator fins and rubbed through tubes, which prompted me to start mounting them to something solid. Had some scrap copper pipe on hand the first time around, and been using that since.

Alex.

[Hiluxxulih]

I just made two steel strips and bolted them to the core support and bolted to cooler to that , its pet peeve of mine mounting transmission coolers to the radiator fins .

[6cylinderstepside]

That's some good ideas, I hated to mount it to the fins too. I'll do the same, thanks!

[cadillac_al]

I put a temp gauge on my K20 th350 twenty years ago and it never overheats. I guess I don't work it hard enough. I don't see how a six cylinder would overheat one. I would suggest a gauge first, to see if it is getting anywhere near hot.

[1970pelle]

I'm also not a big fan of attaching trans coolers directly to the radiator. I made a couple of very simple brackets and mounted mine way out front. Nothing revolutionary, then a couple of hole saw holes later plus grommets. And that is the OEM oil cooler just hanging out on the right. Done.

Ken

[gmachinz]

88-91 Burbs w/towing package (that means most!) had a nice factory trans cooler-it mounts in the same spot on the 81-up truck/K5 radiator support also-I'd opt for a factory appearance.

[6cylinderstepside]

cadillac_al, I am going from a manual to an auto tranny so my radiator doesn't have a cooler so it is not a worry of overheating, but that I just need a regular cooler.

gmachinz, I am a big fan of keeping looking either original or "It looks like it could have been original". I'll hiy my yards looking for that!

[1970pelle]

I'm more to the side of Function over originality. But if you look at what type work I do, A lot of thought goes into each and every decision before the final plan is finished.



Ken