Best Radiator for A/T?

[JohnRardin]

I need to buy a radiator tonight and I'm trying to find an all aluminum racing radiator that works with an automatic transmission, but I've had no luck. All the cheap one's I find have plastic ends and that obviously didn't work for me before. What's the best?
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PORTABLE HOMEMADE VAPORIZER

 

[dbsupra90]

i dont know any of the alum ones having a built in trans cooler.

you are much better off running an external aftermarket trans cooler anyway. you can get a pretty decent one for less than $50.

 

[tissimo]

Just buy an external trans cooler, they're cheap and much better at cooling then fluid then the radiator cooler.

 

[JohnRardin]

Sweet. Looks like my friend might be able to hook me up with a fluidyne and a transmission cooler. I think he said it was a stock one from a M/T so my question is: Will this setup work on an A/T without too much trouble?
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Harmed by depakote

 

[Nick M]

The automatic transmission cars all have a cooling system that runs through the radiator. If you block the line, you will destroy the transmission. If you reroute them back in, you will overheat the transmission, requiring a rebuild in short order. The lines on the trans have to be run through the factory cooler, which a 5 speed doesn't have, or an external cooler.

Getting a five speed radiator is fine. As stated, it is all for the engine, giving you more cooling capacity. By a little bit. But then you need an external trans cooler. And they are not very much, but require light fabrication-mounting. You can get an external trans cooler for trucks, rated in BTU's. You won't over heat your trans.

Good questions you have.

 

[JohnRardin]

The automatic transmission cars all have a cooling system that runs through the radiator. If you block the line, you will destroy the transmission. If you reroute them back in, you will overheat the transmission, requiring a rebuild in short order. The lines on the trans have to be run through the factory cooler, which a 5 speed doesn't have, or an external cooler.

Getting a five speed radiator is fine. As stated, it is all for the engine, giving you more cooling capacity. By a little bit. But then you need an external trans cooler. And they are not very much, but require light fabrication-mounting. You can get an external trans cooler for trucks, rated in BTU's. You won't over heat your trans.

Good questions you have.

Thanks, I appreciate your help. I'm working on getting a ride out to Richmond this weekend so hopefully I can have it running Monday. It looks like I'm gunna have to install this in the random parking lot it died in. I just hope I didnt do any serious damage to my engine.

Anyone have any suggestions for easiest place to mount a trans cooler?
Are there any mods to get a fluidyne to fit easily?

Thanks!
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Zoloft lawsuit

 

[jdub]

The one on the right...under the driver's side, forward fender, aft of the fog light. It's a TruCool w/ a Spal Fan:

This is a better option IMO:
http://store.summitracing.com/partd...1&part=BMM%2D70298&N=700+115&autoview=sku

The B&M with a fan is the same bar/plate design and it has a temp switch to turn the fan on/off.

I would also add a filter to this in a complete circuit. I have mine under the passenger side in the same location below a remote oil filter. A Trasko bypass filter is excellent for the tranny, but you can use a conventional filter as well. BTW - ditch the stainless hose...AeroQuip socketless (or equivalent) is a much better choice.

 

[dbsupra90]

i'm a big fan of the B&M coolers. they are super tough, esp compared to the tube/fin.

 

[JohnRardin]

All right, I made a trade with my friend D for a fluidyne, a 12" fan, and a oil cooler from a M/T, red vac hoses, and a fender. I think I got a good deal considering I traded him an old crankshaft, ISC sensor, black vac hoses, polished manifold shields and 200 bucks. Not bad. Will the oil cooler suffice until I can get a legit trans cooler? I'm going to have to install this in a parking lot so I need all the help I can get. I don't plan on messing with the Efan until I get everything else installed.
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[jdub]

The stock oil cooler is a bit small for the tranny...it is good for a powersteering cooler though.

 

[JohnRardin]

The stock oil cooler is a bit small for the tranny...it is good for a powersteering cooler though.

uh oh. I was planning on doin that tomorrow just to get it running. Is this idea dangerous? I hope to have a good one in a week but.... will this work for now?
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Web shows

 

[jdub]

It's better than nothing, but I'll warn you...excessive ATF temps will kill an auto tranny. #2 on that list is debris (crap in the fluid). That is why I suggested a real filter earlier.

 

[Stretch]

About how long can the auto tranny run before it gets too hot? A couple mins? This is without the proper cooler and either the smaller one, or just looping it back in for now. Mini thread-jack but not quite .
eric

 

[jdub]

It doesn't take long, especially under agressive driving. I would check the AFT (burned smell) on a very regular basis.

 

[Stretch]

What about just idleing, or moving slowly to park or move the car? Will the tranny heat up enough in that time/harshness to damage? Maybe 4-5 mins of barely driving?
eric

 

[jdub]

No...that will not be a problem. What you don't want to do is overheat the fluid multiple cycles.

 

[JohnRardin]

Ok I got the best cooler that Advance Auto had and the hoses and mounting kit. I'm planning on installing everything tomorrow with any luck. My question now is, which filter should I use that advance would carry? No one at the advance store had any clue what to suggest and the employees basically just tried to tell me that its not necessary. It may be overkill but filters are less than $20... I don't plan on replacing my tranny twice.
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Volcano vaporizer review

 

[jdub]

Any good oil filter on a remote filter head...I like Wix or PureOne.