Out of the factory, do our cars come with transmission coolers? Cause I got one and I didn't put it in...

 

Your tranny fluid runs through your radiator . Is it a cooler ? No , but it does cool the fluid . You really dont need a cooler unless your running a highstall , or you have a heavy foot when taking off . I bought a tranny cooler and never installed it , at the time I thought I was going to get a higher stall conveter . My cooler is still sitting in the cabnet in my Den . Mom pulled it out the other day and said , whats this ?

 

I like your repair list ! ...Mine is the same , more than I care to list

 

LOl, well thanks. Yeah, the previous owner installed a tranny cooler...it's mounted on the bottom front-side of the radiator, and held in place by the 2 metal straps that hold the air dam on. The previous owner of this car is a trip...he put an unnecessary tranny cooler on, puts a Moroso oil cap on, and doesn't do a d*mned thing to repair the car. I had to replace the radiator, a tranny mount, an o-ring in the distributor, buncha wires, idler arm, all 4 tires, more stuff I can't remember...

BTW, my torque converter is shot so I WILL be replacing it when I can get enough money....and I plan to put a nice hi-performance one in.

 

Rant mode:
Ah, NO!!
A transmission cooler is the most important thing someone can install with an automatic. THE MOST IMPORTANT!
700r4's run hot, it doesent matter what stall you have the extra cooling capibilites and extra capacity you gain can make the difference between a 80,000 mile transmission and a 180,000 mile transmission.
End rant:

 

Lol...well my car is the original transmission and it has 104,000 on it and has never missed a shift. Just shifts like it has a kit (pretty hard) and goes to the redline before shifts..takes a little manipulation. But yeah, I figured the cooler might be a reason it's still working pretty good. Sweetness...

 

I agree with SSC, an aftermarket trans cooler can only help, and not hurt. Like he said, the design of the 700r4 makes it run hotter than the usual GM transmissions, even without any modifications! Cooler trans fluid lasts longer... trans fluid isn't like engine oil. When trans fluid gets hot, it breaks down, "burns", and won't lube the trans as well.

I have the B&M Supercooler on my trans. It's great to know it's on there when I'm speeding around town on a hot day.

 

Thanks guys...right on. Is there any way to find out which brand and model of tranny cooler I've got? Probably not, but it'd be kinda nice to know if it's a decent one. Looks pretty old...

 

What's it look like? The B&M coolers use a stacked plate design, looks like a metal grid. Older/cheaper ones look like an actual radiator, with thin metal fins. A maker name might be stamped somewhere on it.. might have to use an inspection mirror. Another thing that helps save the 700r4 is an auxiliary remote trans filter... mine was made by Summit, it's their own brand, cost me $20. Couldn't find a damn spot to mount it, wound up making my own bracket for it out of 1/8" steel, and mounting it above the idler arm of the front suspension. The bracket looks like an "L", and is bolted to the top of the passenger side's main frame rail. The filter mount bolts to the side of the "L".

 

Has anyone ever put a trans temp gauge on their car to see exactly what temp you are running? I had one on my Toyota (yes, it did have a GM 700-R4 in it)and it seemes to run really hot when in stop and go traffic. Once you got out on the highway and locked up the TCC, it would cool down quite a bit. I would just like to know what it is supposed to run. I would guess about 180 or so, but I don't know.

I do know that if you plan on doing a bunch of hot rodding and especially if you tow anything, it will help your trans life a lot. My 2500 truck has a trans cooler from the factory.

 

I don't have one, but I want one. I think I was supposed to put one on when summer started. (Dammit!!!) My remote trans filter has a fitting for a temp gauge. My big problem is where to put the damn gauge. I already have a dual gauge pod on the a-pillar (since 1997, has oil pressure and water temp), so that location won't work. I was thinking about below the dash; I don't -need- to see it all the time, but I don't think I'll like how it looks. Hm.

I also want to add the air/fuel gauge. I'd like both to be Autometer, the "ultra light" silver gauges.

 

Tom, those Autometer gauges are the best. I LOVE the air/fuel gauge. When I start shopping for them, that'll be one of my first purchases, along with a tach. I'm going out to look at the cooler as soon as it stops raining, it's pretty hard right now. I can say this though, it's got the radiator style metal fins. Looks pretty chinsy. Didn't see anything stamped anywhere either.

 

Most likely you have a Summit or one of the cheaper B&M coolers or something like that. Doesn't matter, though, because they work good. All of those thin fins conduct a lot of heat. They actually are a lot more efficient than the thicker stock style trans coolers.

I got the AutoMeter trans temp gauge in my truck, and it said to put the temp sender in the pan where it would be in contact with the fluid there. I made a bung and welded it to the pan to mount mine in there. I agree that AutoMeter gauges are really good stuff. Hey TomP, sounds like you are going to have to put a bunch of aftermarket gauges in the dash in place of the stock ones! Would look really cool, but would be a pain to do.

 

Hehe, actually, I like the stock panel, but for a dumb reason. I have the idiot light panel, so I just get a big speedo and a big fuel gauge. What I like about it is the "added gauges" look... that's how a hot rod should look to me- a car converted for "speed". 'Fact a couple weeks ago, I scored a full gauge cluster from an '86 Firebird, with every gauge, for $0 (free), including the VSS buffer and VSS sender. I took it for two reasons... one, "just in case", and two, the guy was about to get rid of the car. I'd hate to see that dash crushed. (So no it's not for sale, hehe)

'Course, the "added gauges" look is a PITA when you run out of cool spots. My tachometer is in a good spot, it blocks the driver's side a/c vent... kinda subtle, out of the way... instead of putting a 6" $300 Monster Tach on the center of the dash like I've seen some guys do.

 

I understand completely about not wanting to cover everything up with a Drag'n Tach or Monster Tach. Nothing screams 'Rice Racer' or 'Wannabee' louder to me than seeing a 6inch diameter tach sticking on the dash of a stock car. I kinda like the stock dash look myself, but a good set of aftermarket gauges is also really nice, if installed correctly.

I have seen a couple of Camaros before with the idiot light dash. It looks to me like you could cut some holes in that panel and mound a few 2 1/16 gauges in that. Maybe not. I am sure that you won't need an oil idiot light and a voltage idiot light if you put a gauge in it. I believe that I would consolidate all the lights into what I really needed, and in one area, then change the wiring so that those are the ones to light up, and put the little plastic covers over them. That would free you up enough space to put a couple of gauges in there. It's just a suggestion. Then you could use that gauge pod for the trans temp and the A/F ratio gauge!