wetnose

Hey all. Got an '89 GTA with the dual fans cooling the radiator setup. Just got a B&M tranny cooler, but I'm not sure what the best location to mount it would be. Can't really put in behind the radiator bc the fans are in the way. Can't put in front bc there's no air cooling out there. Where did you all install yours? Also, did you use some custom brackets or anything besides what comes with the kit?
Thanks, this forum's awesome.

dankhound

Put it in front of the radiator. There will be enough air coming up to cool off the trans.

BDR

mine is infront of the radiator and cools great..same cooler like yours. used stuff that came w/the kit.

wetnose

thanks all. I did install it in front of radiator and the tranny oil foaming went away.

burntblues

Does anyone have pics of this? I'm looking to install one that I ordered a while ago. I'm now down in NC and want to make sure that I don't overheat anything. I'd like to see some mounting pics to make sure I've got it right. I think mine could be difficult due to the AC exchange (which my AC doesn't work by the way, but I don't want to hack it out either). Also, anyone have photos of an oil cooler installed w/ a tranny cooler?

Thanks,
Mike

wetnose

Hooking up a transmission cooler is easier though different than I thought i'd be like. The main majority of my time, was trying to fit the damn thing between my front radiator support rods and the radiator. I would recommend NOT to go with the biggest cooler you can find, since smaller ones cool just fine and they are a lot easier to fit. Once you have it installed in front of the radjator just cut some hoses to link it into the radiator and the rest of the system. Every tranny cooler comes with diagrams so it's easy to figure out the hose routing. Good luck. It's not a hard mechanical job like replacing headers.

84RIceEater

How much better is the cooler than the stock trans cooler in the radiator?

Forshock 85TA

Keep in mind the collant in the rad. can be in upwards of 220*, so that is technically as cool as the tranny fluid could get (Theoretically). I placed mine on the "X" in front of the radiator, on a nice, warm day (90*) with a 4 pass i see about 160-170* in my trans. pan.

I used plumbers pipe strap attached to the little mounts that came with the cooler. Works great and i didnt put any holes through my new 31x19

84RIceEater

whats the normal temp of a tranny---Sorry i start to get off topic.

DENN_SHAH

iTrader: (1)

running just the factory tranny cooler in the radiator in stop & go traffic on a hot day,.. 220+, even 240+ isn't uncommon

running the biggest tranny cooler that will properly fit in front of the radiator without the factory cooler in the radiator in the same traffic on the same day,... maybe 200. add a small fan to the tranny cooler that kicks on around 160 & it may get to 170~180.

wetnose brings up a good point, if its too big you can't mount it right & you will have poor air circulation through it. smaller with good air flow is better,.. or you could mount 2 smaller ones & T them together & equal out to more than the 1 big one.

84RIceEater

too cool is not good either

DENN_SHAH

iTrader: (1)

with a tranny im not sure how cool is too cold, too cool has to be better than too hot.

i knew a guy who had a ford truck with a C-6 trans he had built for towing behind a pretty strong 390 motor. it was a work truck during the week, he raced it on the weekends. during the week he pulled a trailer that weighed around 12000 pounds loaded. his A/C didn't work so he used the A/C condenser as a trans cooler, his tranny temp gage never went to 140 on the hottest of days with it loaded. he put around 60000 miles a year on it & changed the fluid once a year, the fluid always came out nice & red. he lived down here for about 6 years & never had any trans problems.

on my car i have the biggest trans cooler that fits properly.

3rdgenmaro

iTrader: (9)

I know this is an old thread, but is there room infront of the a/c condensor to mount a cooler?