Hot Rod Forum banner

Transmission Cooler Location

13K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  dwwl 
#1 ·
There is a flat trans cooler mounted under my 36 Ford street rod.

I'd like to know just how well these work if mounted flat under the floor with about 3" clearence above the unit. Have any of you checked the fluid temp before and after a cooler mounted likt this ?

Not much room to mount a scoop cause of ground clearence. I don't want it mounted in front of the radiator.

Any ideas ?

THANKS !!


454 RATTLER
 
#3 ·
I find these work so much better then them the flat ones... If the flat ones don't have a fan or mounted up and down I find it hard for the air to past where it needs to pass,,through it... They are good for in front of the Rad, I run ones like this under all my car's with no problems at all..

You can run the one you have,, But if it's laying flat under the car,, Put a fan on it..

 

Attachments

#4 ·
I know a number of guys that run a cooler just like New Interiors posted - and all seem to like them. Tucked alongside the frame rail, that style should still get good airflow - a stacked plate should have a fan to pull air through it.

New Interiors, Have you seen any performance data on that style of cooler? I have seen ratings on the stacked plate style - in terms of trailer weight, but have not seen similar ratings on the finned cooler type. Most guys that use a trans cooler on their rod don't seem to run a trans temp gauge - regardless of cooler style.
 
#5 ·
Sorry I didn't see any data on them.. I ran them on every car I built and never had one fail yet,, No trans problems at all,, aluminum dissipates heat. I know from all mine and being around all the other hotrodders that they do work.. I would love to see the difference and the data sheet's but never have..I never run a trans gauge also..
 
#6 ·
I thought about putting a temperature sender in the trans cooler line, then wiring it to the water temperature gauge with a switch that would let me see either one on the water temp gauge. I have Autometer gauges, and their tech told me the senders used the same range, so it would work.
 
#8 ·
I have an extruded two pass, 24 inch long mounted on the frame rail of my '31. I also have a temp sender mounted in the pan and use a DPDT switch to the engine coolant gauge so I can monitor both with a quick flip of that switch - both run about 180 degrees F on a 90+ day. You can debate location of the sender, but the pan is the easiest for my application. Couple of photos attached:
 

Attachments

#9 ·
That's just what I was talking about, switching senders on a single gauge. I think the pan works fine as a location for the sender. Thanks for posting how well that works for you. I know lots of guys who run an extruded cooler like yours, but very few that have a sender/gauge to monitor how it's really working.
 
#13 ·
Nice setup......I have that still cooler on my trans also (30 Ford Coupe) but wondered about its effectiveness, so got the parts together to add a tube/fin performance style up in front of the rad.....apparently these type coolers do a good job from your report. On the temp sender in the pan, I am getting ready to add a deep pan and like that setup....what or where did you get the bushing to install the sending unit? Did it come as a kit type thing......
 
#14 ·
If it's an aluminum pan, just drill and pipe tap it for whatever temp sender you want to use. Most gauge companies can supply you with a standard thread sender, O-ring and nut for a steel pan. I had a VDO sender for a steel pan but not a clue as to what happened to it as I didn't use it:pain:.
 
#15 ·
Yes, its a pretty hefty aluminum pan, I didnt know if you had found a "special" fitting or bulkhead type of thing for the sending unit....sorta like the pieces they sell for adding a drain to a pan without one. It has a gasketed (flat plastic type ring) with a bulkhead style fitting, to secure to the pan and then the plug goes into that.....heck i mite just weld a bung into it and get it over with,. lol
 
#18 ·
Just posted a messege and didn't know someone had already did it here. I'm getting ready to put my single pass cooler on my nova since I just picked up a large deep pan for my 200 4r. thought about running two single pass coolers. Is that good or bad. I'm sure someone has done that and can let me know how it worked out. Not going to use a tranny gauge.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top