Crazy Idea’s


Anyone every think about using an unused AC radiator for an oil/tranny cooler???

I removed the AC from my wagon a while ago and I noticed it has the large diameter tubing, the same size as a oil or tranny cooler. Now the AC radiator out of my 86 Bird is super small and would not work but I know my 80 Buick one has the right size tubing. I am sure if it can take the pressure of an AC system it can do oil or tranny fluid.

Being so big I could just cut it up into the size I wanted. Divided it into 65-25-10
65% tranny 25% oil 10% fuel. Of course you can always buy the right ones but I like finding ways too re-use old parts. And how cheap can you pick up and old large tube AC radiator $10-20 and you get enough material for 2-3 smaller cooling radiators.

Course the next question is how much extra fluid line and extra radiator lines can you use before you have problems pumping the fluid? Being it tranny fluid, oil or gas.


-Matt

 

Yes, people invent that all the time. For many decades now.

It's not as effective as a real trans cooler, because real ones have fins inside the tubing to make the fluid so that all of it comes into contact with the tubing, so that a layer of cool fluid doesn't build up next to the tubing with hot fluid in the middle. But it works OK.

Oil is a different matter... if you've ever had a leak in your pressurized oil system, you probably know what an astounding amount of oil it can spew in how short a time. There's no way to cut into the suction side of a wet-sump system (well, a practical way at least), and I don't believe I'd want some half-assed rig out there somewhere on the pressure side, that could drain my entire crankcase in less than 2 seconds if a line burst or popped off or something. Just not my idea of a place to take that much risk for that little benefit.

On the other hand, with a real trans cooler as cheap as it is, why bother?

 

That's why the lines and hoses on LT1 oil coolers are so critical. As RB said, one little leak and you're shopping for a new crank in a few seconds.

 

lol, well said