Hey, has anyone ever thought about installing a tranny cooler and/or guage with a T5. I am in the middle of my conversion from A4 to M5. Since I was using a tranny cooler and guage with the auto, I am wondering if it could be benifitial. The cooler maybe stretching it for effectiveness (unlike an auto, especially with higher stalls), but the guage might be usefull don't you think? Anyway, I could always use the cooler as a power streering cooler, already have an engine oil cooler going in.

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George P. Lara
1984 Z28
SCCA, SCFB, SC3GFB

 

IMO useless for the T5. But I agree with the power steering cooler/temp gauge idea. I'm just glad I decided against the tranny temp gauge prior to my T5 swap. How is the swap going? Have you bought a new starter yet? Lon

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90 RS Convertible
http://www.sc3gfb.org/members/lonsal.html
http://www.taskerinc.com/gs3/profiles/Lon_profile.htm

 

You'd have to have a pump to flow the gearbox fluid through the system. I'd find a good place to put the gauge first. then when you decide you don't need the cooler (I would imagine, after seeing the temps) you can forget about it. just make sure the guage's sender is down low where it should be immersed in fluid all the time.

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Clem
SCCA TransAm Series Race Mechanic/CrewChief
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1983 Z28 with LG4, 5 speed, and (unfortunately) T-tops
1983 Z28, NO T-tops, (unfortunately) Auto Transmission (hopefully not for long)

[This message has been edited by clemsparks (edited June 28, 2001).]

 

Yeah, I thought it would be pointless to have a cooler on the trans (and yes I was even thinking of using a small fluid pump), but I've seen some weird **** before.

lon:

The swap is done, except for increasing the shifter hole. All I need is the flywheel and drop in the engine after breaking it in outside the vehicle. Less chance of fires. As for the starter, I am going to use a mini-starter (CSI, IIRC, from Jegs).

clemsparks:

I was thinking of using one of the drain plugs, but I'm not to comfortable with the layout/position after the sender would be installed.

 

Manual transmissions don't get hot enough to worry about heat. Pointless to put a tranny cooler for that fluid (unless you have gutted the car, increased the hp and run in SCCA GT tournaments, then it would make sense) but otherwise, save your money for something else.

 

Interesting that you mention SCCA and high horsepower because the car will fit the bill. The engine kit is roughly rated at 400 hp with a carb setup. Plus I plan on doing some Open Track and Solo II (see SCCA in my sig, it's there for a reason ) events with this car. That is why I asked. This is not a "stock" vehicle by any means. Except maybe looks.

 

Oh, well, that changes everything!

My suggestion would be to mount a power steering pump where the smog pump would be, with a restrictor in the return line. Plumb the cooling lines with the outlet of the trans being the "drain" plug and the return to the "fill" plug. Standard NPT fittings make it easy for plumbing and you can use braided line. It wouldn't even need to be high temp or high pressure hose either. Put a small oil cooler in-line with the return line and that will reduce the pressure further, thereby reducing cavitated fluid being returned to the tranny.

Good luck and keep the shiny side up!
Paul