OK, maybe this is a really stupid question, but since I'm in this position, I have a decision to make, & I'd really prefer to make it fairly quickly. (Despite how this starts, it is a tranny question!)

First, the situation - I've got an '89 GTA, L98 with an HSR, CAI, exhaust, mildly ported stock heads, stock shortblock, & 700R4. (There's a bit more, but that's most of the stuff that'll affect power production.) I've just this week gotten the HSR installed, took it out for a "shakedown cruise" before the scheduled test-n-tune tonight, & wouldn't ya know it, the radiator did it's best "Old Faithful" impression.

Now since I'd like to be able to drive the car a bit before the weather gets bad (& maybe even take part in a test-n-tune or two), I'm looking at getting another radiator. It's also important to know that this is just a "summer day" car that probably only sees 200-500 miles/yr.

Now - once the weather starts getting cold again, it's very likely that I'll be switching to a T-56. My current 700R4 will probably be going to one of my local F-buds who's given me a lot of help this year, so I want to keep it in good shape for him.

I called around for replacement radiator costs tonight, & from what I've heard so far, I can get an all-aluminum radiator for an auto-tranny car for about $325 - but the same radiator for a stick-equipped car is only $200.

So the question becomes, "How harmful would it be to run the 700R4 without the radiator-based A/T cooler for 200-400 miles this summer?" I can't imagine that I'd be able to hit three track days for the rest of the year (I'd be really happy if I could get to two!), & the rest of the time it's driven is really just "cruise" type driving - at least 95% or so.

It seems that I have three choices:

• Don't drive the car until I swap in the T-56, & buy the M/T radiator;
• Buy the M/T radiator, & drive the car this summer w/o the A/T cooler;
• Buy the radiator with the A/T cooler, & drive with that even when the T-56 goes in the car;

I know that a number of people would suggest the last option, but that really goes against my grain for two reasons - first, it's spending an extra $120 that I'll get very minimal benefit for, & second, I literally spend time looking for places where I can shave 1/2 lb. off the car (especially in the front!), & adding an A/T cooler that I'll only use for a couple months just seems to be taking a step backwards.

But if it'll screw up the 700R4 to run it w/o the cooler, I'll probably just "suck it up" & spend the coin I guess...

Constructive feedback would be much appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

If you're talking about running the 700R4 with no cooling whatsoever, I'd be surprised if it lived for 20-40 miles, let alone 200-400.

Why do you need a new rad anyway?

 

If I were you, I would buy the radiator for the manual trans, and then buy a decent size tranny cooler meant for towing and put a small electric fan on it. Then when you ditch the auto tranny, you could sell the cooler and keep the fan and put it on the radiator as a backup pusher fan.

This way you can have it both ways, and have exactly what you want in the end with little wasted cash.

DO NOT run the tranny without a cooler. You WILL burn it up. And like already said, you'd be lucky to make it 20-40 miles, and not only would 200-400 be out of the question. A pass on the drag strip would certainly finish it off.

 

Thanks guys, I sort of figured that, but I just don't know transmissions well at all, so I wanted to get advice before I did anything.

ApeIron, I need the rad. because my stock one has just given up the ghost.

hgffrank, I do indeed have an aux. tranny cooler that I bought from Summit (25,000 GVW, if memory serves), although I don't yet have an electric fan. I'd bought it when I was still trying to decide whether I'd get the manual or stay with the 700R4.

Thanks again guys.