Hooking up a tranny cooler... May 12, 2007, 10:40:13 AM When installing a tranny cooler,does it really matter which line goes to which end of the cooler?I'm thinking of installing mine today while I have the fender and header panel off. Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #1 – May 12, 2007, 11:15:45 AM Might do mine today too. Guess it would be nice to think that they are the same. Are they labled on yours. Nothin on mine Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #2 – May 12, 2007, 11:36:12 AM I really don't think it matters for the cooler.I just want to make sure.The flow through one end orr the other should be the same. Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #3 – May 12, 2007, 03:10:13 PM Quote from: vinnietbird;146686When installing a tranny cooler,does it really matter which line goes to which end of the cooler?I'm thinking of installing mine today while I have the fender and header panel off.I dont think it matters. On my install I sent the fluid through the radiator before the air cooler (so my air cooler would be an aftercooler). I used compression fittings (no flaring required) on the hard lines that I had to cut so I could install nipples for the hose transitions. The fittings never leaked probably because it's such a low pressure application.To figure out which line is the supply line just disconnect both lines and run the engine for a short time. Which ever line the fluid comes out of is your supply. Dont worry about it blasting out because it wont. It's not under much pressure at idle. Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #5 – May 12, 2007, 08:44:54 PM I did the opposite of Dogcharmer: I put my cooler in before the rad cooler, so the coolant warms up the tranny fluid after the cooler cools it down. I did this because my enormous cooler would likely cool the tranny down too much.When I tapped into the line I cut it with a tube cutter and bubble flared the ends (half a double flare). I then forced the hoses over the bubble flares and installed clamps - the bubble flares will prevent the hoses from ever coming off. I dunno about Ford trannies, but GM tranny lines can build upwards of 300PSI (and GM trannies will also empty the pan in mere seconds and make a very, very big mess if you start the engine with a line disconnected - don't ask me how I know this). Because of my experiences with GM transmissions (remember, I worked in GM shops all my life, so almost all my experience with broken cars is GM) I recommend to always use hoses specifically designed for transmission cooler applications, as other lines may not withstand the pressure.I dunno why, but I've always preferred a top-to-bottom flow for coolers. I guess it stems from cooling system theory - the water pump inlet will always be connected to the lowest point on the radiator, to prevent the pump sucking any air that might be in the radiator and to allow any air in the system to stay harmlessly in the top part of the rad. I know not much air would get into a transmission or oil cooler, but for some reason I've always just used that same logic. Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #6 – May 12, 2007, 11:30:46 PM Quote from: Thunder Chicken;146802I did the opposite of Dogcharmer: I put my cooler in before the rad cooler, so the coolant warms up the tranny fluid after the cooler cools it down. I did this because my enormous cooler would likely cool the tranny down too much.That makes sense. Also if you have to deal with really cold outside temps it would be good to plumb it that way.I plumbed mine as an aftercooler because I'm using an inefficient stock Turbocoupe cooler that I found in a wrecking yard. But down in TX where 100 degree summer temps are the norm I'd probably plumb an efficient cooler after the radiator also.I guess the efficiency of the cooler and the climate where you live dictates how to plumb it. Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #7 – May 13, 2007, 12:48:11 AM when i did mine... as long as one hose goes in, and one hose goes out... or 1 to the tranny and 1 from the tranny, no probs. i installed my aftermarket one dead center-top of my radiator... they didnt like eachother for a day or 2 but now they get along just like brothers. Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #8 – May 13, 2007, 12:53:42 AM I was going to install mine bottom right of center of the radiator.I may change my mind when I look at it closer.I've introduced them,so hopefully they'll get along fine.LOL. Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #9 – May 13, 2007, 01:02:35 AM I was thinking bottom driver but same idea Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #10 – May 24, 2007, 09:38:22 PM Hooking the trans cooler up before the fluid hits the rad is just plain silly...no sense in even putting it in then...I had mine in series on the outlet side of the cooler in the radiator...I never had a problem even in sub-freezing temperatures...the cooler you keep the trans, the longer it will live.I had mine positioned almost directly behind the grille opening on my t-bird and it was rediculously large...I used trans cooler hose, cut the steel lines and used a single flare on the ends for retention, slipped the hose over them and used regular old hose clamps...never leaked once....there is a nice opening in the radiator support on the lower driver side...it's an oval hole perfectly sized for 2 3/8" tranny hoses to run through....just make sure you don't make any tight bends in the hoses.Goodluck,Don Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #11 – May 25, 2007, 11:26:03 AM 2 weeks ago, I had a friend get a transmisson rebuilt. The tranny shop told him NOT to run the fluid through the radiator. The tranny shop said running it through the radiator does not do anything except add heat to the fluid. Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #12 – May 25, 2007, 03:31:13 PM yeh the cooler i got was supposed to be tapped into the normal trans cooler like a companion cooler, but i completely sealed that off, and just ran the hoses to and from the tranny. it works perfectly, i just had to do a little finaggling with the hoses to get them away from heat and moving parts but the install took a week (parts) but labor on the job was half an hour taking my time checking and rechecking the clearences with where i routed the hoses. first couple days it wanted to overheat the tranny, then it wanted to overheat the engine at a stop or in slow traffic. now it works as if nothings changed. Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #13 – May 25, 2007, 07:40:21 PM Quote from: 1badcougar;1496212 weeks ago, I had a friend get a transmisson rebuilt. The tranny shop told him NOT to run the fluid through the radiator. The tranny shop said running it through the radiator does not do anything except add heat to the fluid.Maybe they want to try and sell him another tranny when his fails...the factory cooler in the radiator will obviously not bring trans temps below coolant temperature, but when you have 280* tranny fluid...you need something to cool it down. I installed my cooler after my second track outing(in 90* summer heat) and upon leaving, my trans was slipping horribly...the next day that cooler went on and it kept my tranny tip top for 2 years. Quote Selected
Hooking up a tranny cooler... Reply #14 – May 25, 2007, 09:44:47 PM The guy that rebuilt my friends tranny for a motor home, originally had a tranny shop in Baltimore, Md. He closed up down there and moved to York, PA and opened up. My friend already had a tranny cooler besides the normal radiator hook up. This guy is giving a 2 year unlimited mileage with towing warranty. This tranny was basterdized by someone else 4 years ago and was not right.I understand the factory had to use some way of cooling the tranny fluid. I would think in this day and age, every car that rolls off the assembly line would have an aftermarket style tranny cooler. These have been around for quite some time and is not like some of the new technology that cars have today. Quote Selected
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