Transmission Cooler Size
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Mt Pleasant Michigan
Transmission Cooler Size
Is there a Formula to figure the size of trans cooler needed? My 85 is almost back together with the 383 and rebuilt 700r4 with 2400 Stall converter. I Don't want to run into the Radiator so the Cooler will do all of the work, I am planning on installing in front of the Radiator/AC Condenser. What size do I need and should it have a Fan on it with a Temp Switch? Any thoughts
Joe
Joe
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
Is there a Formula to figure the size of trans cooler needed? My 85 is almost back together with the 383 and rebuilt 700r4 with 2400 Stall converter. I Don't want to run into the Radiator so the Cooler will do all of the work, I am planning on installing in front of the Radiator/AC Condenser. What size do I need and should it have a Fan on it with a Temp Switch? Any thoughts
Joe
Joe
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,961
Likes: 707
From: WI
Without using the radiator I definitely recommend a cooler with a fan! Stopped in traffic your trans temp will spike high without some air flow/water cooling. I think mine is the same as above and it does OK (20,00 BTU). I'm thinking of replacing it for one twice the size as my trans get to 200° on a road course.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Without using the radiator I definitely recommend a cooler with a fan! Stopped in traffic your trans temp will spike high without some air flow/water cooling. I think mine is the same as above and it does OK (20,00 BTU). I'm thinking of replacing it for one twice the size as my trans get to 200° on a road course.
to an extent. I have mine positioned so that the primary fan blows through it at all times 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Mt Pleasant Michigan
I was just looking at My Diesel Truck it has a 10" x 20" in front of the radiator and a real small heat exchanger on the side of the Engine and that is it. I wonder if the heat exchanger is to actually raise the temp of the trans? According to Summit they say that 160 to 200 degrees is Ideal. My other Diesel truck runs about 150 just normal driving in the Winter and 180 or so in the Summer (Just normal Driving
)
It would be nice to see a Formula
Joe
)It would be nice to see a Formula
Joe
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,961
Likes: 707
From: WI
Re heat exchanger, having the radiator in the loop helps bring the trans up to temp. I've found mine to do OK though unless it's winter. One time I had the car out in January (20° outside) and the trans didn't get over 100°. I had to put a bag over the cooler.
I personally don't like to see 200°. Maybe Pete can chime in on this. There will be areas of higher heat then where the probe is, such as the converter. I try to get mine 150° pan/case temp, thinking that converter temp is something like 20-30° more. Pete would know better though.