I know this is an odd question because i couldn't find any help with searching.

*Anybody know which portion of the radiator is designated for the atf?*

the reason i ask is because i am having to place small pieces of cardboard in front of my radiator in order for the car to run at a decent temp. and i DONT want to risk covering the only thing that keeps my tranny from getting hot.

i can sort of tell by where the inlet/outlets are located but im not sure how much of it is used by the atf. i experimented with this last winter, but now that i have a new tranny installed i want to be sure.

thanks for any info.

 

The transmission cooler is contained entirely within the side tank.

 

Take the cardboard out and put the cooler in its place.

Cardboard is cheaper then a thermostat I guess

Later

 

i just took out the 160 tstat and put in a 180 tstat... still doesnt hardly warm up (idles for 20 minutes still ice cold). it acts like the tstat is stuck open. but its not and works fine in a pot on the stove...

im thinking about using an external atf cooler then using the cardboard for the engine coolant only... this sounds like a bigrig fix but its the only thing i can think of.

 

How are you measuring the temperature?

 

I've never heard of our cars running too cold, but this being my 4th thirdgen, I think Apeiron is on the right track.

 

the car's temp... i can tell by the way she runs, i also take into account the ice cold air from the heater (which has a new core that blows hot after it finally warms up), and the temp guage(which i know isnt 100% accurate, but its still a good judge as to when its over 100).

if you meant how can i tell the temp of the tstat... culinary thermometer in a pot of h20 on the stove... it actually opens between 175 and 180.
ive really never heard a sbc running cold except due to faulty or missing tstat.

 

Try replacing your gauge sender, see if your car runs hotter after that.

 

How come you are not running a 195 degree thermostat? Your chip?

You have tested the thermostat so you know it is in good working order.

Start the car and let it idle warming up to normal temperature. Watch the gauge inside the car until it approaches what you "think" is 180 degrees. Then go back and pay attention to the upper radiator hose, it should get really hot all of a sudden from the thermostat opening for the first time.

When that hapens everything should be working fine.

Also how are your heater core lines hooked up?