I read an article in Hot Rod Magazine a few months ago about an experiment they performed measuring the engine temperature in relation to the transmission temperature. In the experiment they installed a deeper transmission pan with cooling fins and measured the engine and transmission temperatures before and after the installation.In the experiment the engine ran cooler with the transmission oil cooled.

I have a 1979 L-82 with a th350 automatic transmission. This past spring I had to install a new drive gear for the speedometer. While working on the transmission I installed a new Derale 14200 pan with cooling tubes and an increase of two quarts of oil. I do not have a gauge installed to measure the transmission oil temperature before and after the pan installation; however, I noticed that my engine runs 10 to 15 degrees cooler with the A/C on. Prior to the new cooling pan installation my engine temperature would increase approximately 15 degrees with the A/C on. Now it stays right at 190 degrees all the time.

I assure this is a result of the transmission oil not heating the radiator water as much as it used to.I know a lot of you are going to say BS, but I don't care, I'm just telling the facts so anyone with an overheating problem can have another avenue to consider.

 

plausible, if the transmission temp is reduced it would take a load off the cooling system. maybe put a second cooler in front of the radiator too.

 

I have been using this heat reduction concept for 30 years on many of my cars but not my 78 L-82 A/C car since it is a 4 speed. Before the 78, I had a 73 nova SS with the turbo 350 which like the 78 L-82 ran hot. I have never used a larger trans pan with cooling features since I did not like the idea of the pan sitting lower than the stock one. In the Nova, I cut both trans lines to the radiator and ran (2) tube and fin tranny coolers in the grille for all the cooling-no radiator cooling. In the Nova application and in your case, a 79 auto with a mechanical fan pulling the air over the coolers especially at low speeds, the trans coolers worked great and greatly reduced not only the water temperature but the trans fluid temp as well-I had a B&M trans temp gauge in the car. Beat the crap out of that tranny and sold the car with 170,000 miles on the OEM tranny still running great in 1990.

Today, I have 2 cars that use the same system but updated with modern double stack trans coolers-2001 Pontiac Grand Prix with 4T65E FWD Tranny-140,000 miles- and a 1994 Mustang GT Convertible-AODE tranny. Both transmission are NOT known for their durability. On the Grand Prix I have (2) 18,000 GVW Long (aka DANA) coolers in the grille on either side of the AC condenser running outside of the radiator cooling-the coolers do all the cooling. Also, have (2) Long Double Stack coolers in the Mustang GT-1 24,000 GVW and 1 18,000 GVW in the grille doing all the cooling. Both cars have limited room in the grille. The GP's trans fluid temp on a 95 degree day (taken off the pan with IR Thermometer) is about 135 degrees and the Mustang GT runs about 145-150 degrees on hot days. The GP I drive all year long in VERY cold temps and I have never had any issues other than the trans needs 88 degrees to shift into overdrive and takes about 3 miles of driving before that will happen when the temp is below 20 degrees.

I have a 28,000 Long Double Stack GVW cooler in the garage waiting to install on my 2008 Chrysler 300 with 100,000 miles on it-Lots of room in the grille-Finally-like the old days with the Nova!!!

Tip-Do not use Tube and Fin coolers if you can avoid it! The Double Stack coolers are not only MUCH more efficient than the old tube and Fin coolers but Long/Dana (used by many OEM car companies) coolers also are self regulated by the trans fluid temp/viscosity-more fluid flows throughout all the cooling stacks as the fluid gets hotter, less fluid flows through the cooler stacks when cold.

Hope that helps!

 

I put a Motorcraft heavy duty transmission oil cooler in my Crown Vic when it was new. The trans fluid never gets hot enough to burn your fingers. Even on a hot summer day, you can easily touch the oil cooler lines. With only regular fluid and filter changes, knock on wood, 251,000 miles later, no problems.

 

Can you share pics and part numbers? Would be interested in something for my C3 700R4. It gets hot and the hoses that connect to the metal fittings on the radiator are drying (having to double clamp against leaks). I bought a small tube/fin cooler and never installed it; did not care for the long rubber hoses with hose clamps only and no fittings on the cooler. Does anybody make hoses with the integral fittings to do away with hoses and hose clamps? Would seem like an opportunity to do away with a weak link in the trans cooling lines.

I found the following item listed for my L48 on Summit. Is it a good one for pipe/fin (Hayden 516)? Bypass trans cooler in radiator completely?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hd...-size/5-7l-350

Also found this #679 Hayden Plate unit. Just a few more $$$:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hd...model/corvette

 

I don't have any pictures that would be relevant for you since 2 of my cars that have the Long Double Stack plate coolers-the 94 Mustang GT and the 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix-are in very confined areas in the grille. My 78 is a 4 speed, no auto.

Here's what I do have you:

Long coolers are made by the Dana Corporation who make most of the OEM coolers found on cars with heavy duty trans duty-Police cars should come to mind.

Long Coolers have what they call "Tru-Cool LPD" (low pressure drop) technology that "allows colder thicker ATF to flow more efficiently through two open bypass channels positioned at the top of the cooler. As operating temperatures increase, the ATF becomes hotter and thinner. It's then directed through the core where it is cooled. Tru-Cool's Highly efficient cooling technology combines improved protection against lube system failure with optimal heat transfer". I use Long coolers only.

Part #'s:

LPD4589-GVW rating -24,000Lbs-My Mustang GT has this one
LPD4454-GVW rating-18,000 lbs-I have 2 of these on the GP
LPD4590-GVW rating-28,000 lbs-Putting this one on the Chrysler 300

Other advantages of the Double Stack Long Coolers:

1. Deliver 15 times less flow restriction than Tube and Fin coolers
2. Self regulating for Maximum ATF flow
3. Long Built Coolers are original equipment on 9 out of 10 new Vehicle installations

Pretty self explanatory why I have been using Long Coolers for a LONG time-no pun intended.

Hope this helps!

 

My research indicates that fuel injection style hose clamps should improve over the typical trans hose clamps as they do not bite into the hose. Is this a good idea? Am thinking FI clamp if trans lines do not work under extreme pressures and the clamp could make a wider sealing surface without tearing up the hose.

 

I really can't comment since I have never used them nor do I currently. I have never had a problem with regular hose clamps that come with the coolers but I do check them roughly every year for tightness.

Installation Update on my 2008 Chrysler 300:

I have been researching the factory 300 trans cooling system now for quite some time in anticipation of installing the Long 28,000 GVW cooler and I could not see where the factory trans lines go into the radiator for cooling. Well, guess what? Chrysler does not route the Trans lines at all into the radiator for cooling but uses the lower 1/3 (not the top 1/3 in the airflow) of the A/C condenser to air cool the trans fluid-THERE IS NO AIRFLOW down low on a 300 A/C condenser-out of the airstream. Pretty much useless!!! Bonehead move! Nice.