I have done exactly that run a stand alone trans cooler.. but I do think it is a good idea to have a trans temp gauge as one is cheap insurance..Better to know is what I think..

Sam

 

I run a stand alone trans cooler and I have a temp gauge for it, the sender is mounted in the trans pan.
Mine is a TH700R4 and it takes a long time to get up to 180ºF just cruising,
in traffic it gets there a tad quicker.
Too long in traffic and it will start to get to 200ºF, I am planning to move the trans rad from in front of the engine rad and then mount a fan on it.
Both my trans and engine coolers are controlled by 180ºF thermostats.

 

technically I have a water cooled transmission cooler on my '51 Chevy... it's a seperate unit from the radiator, and water is passed thru it from the lower rad hose.... it's a factory powerglide transmission in a '51 Chevy. factory 235 too.

 

$40? buy a oil cooler temperature bypass valve (Jegs/Summit/etc)

tranny fluid will only pass thru the cooler at 190*+

 

but I dont want the trans to run too cool.

what ??? did you mean too hot ?

i run a seperate cooler, with a fan on it. no problems that i know about. i have a temp gauge, and can turn the fan on if needed.

 

what ??? did you mean too hot ?...

Nope. Too cool. I'm concerned that if its run too cool or takes too long to warm up then it might be hard on the fluid. Just like cold engine oil tends to form sludge.

 

The reason for the cooler in the radiator is to bring the trans fluid up to operating temperature. I have ran a separate cooler myself on older transmission & felt no difference. BUT on the newer transmissions it may cause problems because of all the computer stuff...joe

 

Thanks for the replies.

Heres another thing I'm trying to figure out... does the air restriction thats caused by a trans cooler in front of the radiator add more heat to the radiator -OR- does an internal trans cooler add more heat to the radiator?

In other words I want the trans to be kept at a decent temp without the radiator suffering as a result.

 

Thanks for the replies.

Heres another thing I'm trying to figure out... does the air restriction thats caused by a trans cooler in front of the radiator add more heat to the radiator -OR- does an internal trans cooler add more heat to the radiator?

In other words I want the trans to be kept at a decent temp without the radiator suffering as a result.

I would think neither, the trans cooler in the radiator not only brings the trans fluid up to operating temps but also cools the trans fluid during use. As for putting it in front of the radiator it would be no different then having an AC condenser in front of it.

Got to remember too, they have been putting trans coolers in the radiators since the early 50's & like grandpa always says "If it ain't broke don't fix it.".....joe

 

I've only used stand alone tranny oil coolers for decades in my hot rods ... It does not get really cold here in the area of Aridzona I live in.

 

I drive a 08 Chevy Silverado, it has a trans temp readout. I have yet to see above 135* while the engine temp is 210 but...I have only had it since January and the temps have not made it above 70 yet.

 

I agree a temp gauge is always a plus.I have a 454 dually and bypass the rad.straight into a large after market cooler for a kitted 4L80E tranny and never have any issues.In fact on the muscle car TV programs I see them mounting them beside the tranny in cool airflow...jo

 

I normally run the frame mounted stand alone tranny coolers on streetrods, many of the early cars have a visible radiator core, or no room to mount them to the radiator. I actually mounted the tranny cooler under the running board spash aprons of my model a rdstr. with a blown small block chevy and 2800 stahl converter, with a small fabbed scoop, and the trans temp gauge never went over 190degrees for 13 years! :thumbup: