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So I recently purchased one of the famous 3 core aluminum radiator from Champion. I am currently putting my car back together.( engine was just installed). Now I want to install my new 3 core radiator, originally I was going to just use the tranny mount kits that connect to the radiator. But I was told to not due that to, leaves and dirt buildup over time. That would result in a hot spot. Any ideas on where I could mount one, would be great. Pictures would be even Better.
I was also thinking of getting a better tranny cooler, than the one I have currently, since I upgraded the torque converter to a 2800 stall speed, with lockup. I was looking at using a B&M supercooler, they seem to be a popular choice.
Any thoughts or suggestions on what to do would be greatly Appreciated.
I have a B&M supercooler. unless the cooler has a fan, you're going to want to mount it in front of the radiator. Run the coolant through the radiator first, then the trans cooler, then back to the trans.
If the trans cooler has a fan, you can mount it just about anywhere.
yeah mine is mounted in front of the radiator. i run mine like this. tranny hot line to radiator in, radiator out to cooler in, cooler out to transmission
I always make a bracket to mount them. I have had them cause leaks on alum radiators. Not often but once or twice in 10 years
put mine in next to the output shaft on a bracket from my Frame and Trans mount. Then made 2in tall fins and put 4 of down the length angled to catch the air and force it through the cooler. It works good, Trans temp stays around 180-200 depending how much i get on it, Thats with a built 700r4 (Fully manual Valve body and all the goodies)
Plan on getting it on the lift this weekend ill get some pic's of it and post when i do.
But the issue I heard if u do it that way, is that it causes a hot spot due to leaf build up and such
the B&M coolers come with the soft pieces that you mount between the cooler and the radiator.
I have two cross bars that cross in front of my radiator. I have mounted my cooler to them with zip ties.
You won't get any more hotspots with it than you will between your condenser and radiator. Just check it periodically and blow forced air in there to clean it out if you need to.
I have found the best place to mount the external trans cooler just behind the front left or right grill opening if you have open grills it receives the coolest air directly to it and all you have to do is cut some rubber strips and drill 3 to 4 mounting holes in the body and bolt it up really the best place for it I spent hours under the car trying to find the best spot and found it I will post some detailed pics of were i have mounted it.
Hope this helps.
Cheers Nat.
The cooler is mounted just behind the grill opening, this position works well if you have open grills, in the pic you can see the light coming from behind the cooler this is the grill opening. It is quite hard to describe where it is so theres the pic if you go under the car you will be able to piece it together by using the picture as a guide. Heres how I run the line trans- hot fluid->radiator top in->radiator bottom out->trans cooler in-> trans cooler out-> back to trans deliver the coolest fluid back to the trans. Sorry about the pic bit hard getting under there to take it, the bottom of the picture is actually facing the front of the car the cooler is mounted with the pipe fittings facing up.
Do hope this helps other 3rd gen firebird owners. Any questions just ask.
Cheers Nat.
Last edited by natdowson; Sep 26, 2014 at 06:27 PM.
Reason: more to add.
When I was new to building/working on my Camaro I bought this 12.5" x 17"
engine and transmission oil cooler that is just large enough for my 14" "primary" puller fan that comes "on" at 190* (now adjusted to 180*).
The engine oil cooling aspect is controlled with a sandwich adapter that only allows the engine oil to flow at 180* where the trans cooler runs all the time.The Transmission lines are ran the same as natdowson's .
Link = http://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-15903
Then there is a 16" pusher fan in front as a backup coming on at 200* with a 180* thermostat. Its such a tight fit it only needs zip ties as a precaution.
Both fans are being run by adjustable , temperature controlled switches.
I'm not promoting this axillary cooler installation because I can see where mounting it in front with a super cooler is a better option.
I would like to use a infrared temp. gun on the return line when its hot just to see where I'm at.
Any way here it is. =
Last edited by Ron U.S.M.C.; Oct 1, 2014 at 03:12 AM.
Its been 8 years since the installation and I thought that was good but I'm willing to re wrought it ,moving it in front.
Mount a larger puller on the Radiator .
My setup works great for the coolant and now that I have reset the the axillary coolers puller fan to 180*,and the pusher to 190* that will have to do for now.
Last edited by Ron U.S.M.C.; Sep 29, 2014 at 09:43 PM.
Here's pics of how I did mine.
Elec. fan mounted to engine side of rad.
2 trans coolers mounted/zip tied to the X cross braces in front of rad.
That was done 9 years ago and been working great since
Mine is like the one on the right side, but it's really too fat to put "behind" the bracing, without having the bracing rubbing against the cooler anyway.
If yours is the super cooler (like mine on the right) then it won't hurt for the braces to rub against it. These are not the the tube/fin coolers which has the thin alum. fins on the thin alum. tubes that the ATF passes through.
The super cooler has thick, heavy outside with thicker tubes made into the cooler.
Hard to see in my pic cause of the angle, but the brace is touching the top of my super cooler. In fact I have the zip ties pulling it against the braces
If yours is the super cooler (like mine on the right) then it won't hurt for the braces to rub against it. These are not the the tube/fin coolers which has the thin alum. fins on the thin alum. tubes that the ATF passes through.
The super cooler has thick, heavy outside with thicker tubes made into the cooler.
Hard to see in my pic cause of the angle, but the brace is touching the top of my super cooler. In fact I have the zip ties pulling it against the braces
Mine is a supercooler and you're right, the thing is built like a brick. I may see if I can space it out a bit. I just prefer things not to rub together if it can be helped.
Do you have to use a separate cooler for the transmission ??? ive just bought a 3 core champion rad to replace my stock one as the car runs a little on the hot side for my liking so im trying to bring it down a bit.
obviously the transmission lines just screw into the radiator to be cooled, and it looks like the champion rad has the some holes in it as i had a peek inside the box the other day when it was delivered.
Do you have to use a separate cooler for the transmission ??? ive just bought a 3 core champion rad to replace my stock one as the car runs a little on the hot side for my liking so im trying to bring it down a bit.
obviously the transmission lines just screw into the radiator to be cooled, and it looks like the champion rad has the some holes in it as i had a peek inside the box the other day when it was delivered.
Only if you run a performance auto trans. Also for cooling look at having your fans turn on sooner.
B&M supercooler.Probably not the most efficient spot, but it works & didn't want to add more bulk to the radiator area, plus i have aux fan there already.So I used area under the battery.Made a bracket to resemble the plastic shield, cut the center out.Later I added an air scoop.
I just mounted my super cooler with fan last night. I bought the cooler 2006. (Only took me 10 years to actually do something with it lol.) I mounted mine in a similar way 84 1LE did, but I have a bit of an angle to it to possibly increase efficiency. I don't have any engine cooling issues with my 400 and champion radiator, so I didn't want to cut any of the ducts in front of the radiator to make this fit. This seems like prime unused real estate. We shall see how it works. I still need to run the xmsn feed and return lines, and refine the mounts and hardware.
I like the scoop idea. It looks good. I may have to fiddle with some metal and see if I can make something like that work on mine. I also thought about making a duct on top to smooth out the "downwind" side.
