DIY Cooler instillation
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
DIY Cooler instillation
I recently purchased a B&M #70297 electric fanned transmission cooler. It did not come with any lines. The inlet and outlet sizes are 1/2" NPT female threads. Which means I need 1/2" male threaded lines.
My main question is this: Are metal lines absolutely required? I hooked up a flex-a-lite transmission cooler on my 84 TA with strong rubber fuel injector line. It has been fine and leak free for 5 years. Many of which where daily driver years.
I want to just buy enough metal line to thread into the cooler and clamp on the proper diameter fuel injector hose to the short metal lines make instillation much easier and cheaper. Like I did on the TA.
I want opinions on this and links if anyone knows any to DIY cooler installs on the C5. I expect people who have never done this to come on and try to burn me for considering this, but it works and has worked for me before, so feel free to blow off. I just need to know if there is some kind of pressure difference between the 700R4 and the 4L60E that I have not considered or something like that that would not allow me to run rubber line.
My main question is this: Are metal lines absolutely required? I hooked up a flex-a-lite transmission cooler on my 84 TA with strong rubber fuel injector line. It has been fine and leak free for 5 years. Many of which where daily driver years.
I want to just buy enough metal line to thread into the cooler and clamp on the proper diameter fuel injector hose to the short metal lines make instillation much easier and cheaper. Like I did on the TA.
I want opinions on this and links if anyone knows any to DIY cooler installs on the C5. I expect people who have never done this to come on and try to burn me for considering this, but it works and has worked for me before, so feel free to blow off. I just need to know if there is some kind of pressure difference between the 700R4 and the 4L60E that I have not considered or something like that that would not allow me to run rubber line.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 409
From: Portland OR
It would work fine. Power steering high pressure hose might be the same stuff. I have used it the past. Most cheezy coolers come with the stuff.
I race my car and that doesn't pass tech, so I used -8 SS braided.
Ron
I race my car and that doesn't pass tech, so I used -8 SS braided.
Ron
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Braided is a good idea. Ill look into that. I am having trouble finding this 1/2"NPT size in anything that looks like it would work... any suggestions?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 409
From: Portland OR
I have a couple of photos. The SS braided solution is nice, but expensive. Stupid fittings cost more than the hose. But it does offer a measure of safety and is easy to take apart.
I'm not sure why they put such big fittings on these coolers. Mine is also a B&M.
Anyway, I cut the front lines out...you have to, they aren't comming out with the engine in. And modified as shown. The flare to AN fitting is Russel. Would be really hard to do what I did with the exh on the car. I eliminated the in rad cooler/heater.
Just for some ideas for you. Lot's of ways to do this. I was in the middle of the large pile-o-mods
Ron
I'm not sure why they put such big fittings on these coolers. Mine is also a B&M.
Anyway, I cut the front lines out...you have to, they aren't comming out with the engine in. And modified as shown. The flare to AN fitting is Russel. Would be really hard to do what I did with the exh on the car. I eliminated the in rad cooler/heater.
Just for some ideas for you. Lot's of ways to do this. I was in the middle of the large pile-o-mods
Ron
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Does the flow from the transmission enter the top or the bottom of the radiator cooler?
I will be running both the radiator and aftermarket coolers because the transmission shop I deal with highly recommends it. They also recommend running it through the radiator first, then the cooler.
I will mount the cooler and basically unhook the exit side, and run it to the inlet of the aftermarket cooler, then the exit of the cooler to the return line to the transmission. All easier said than done.
Then I have the electric fan to hook up... Not even sure whats involved in that yet. Or how to set the temp that it turns on at.
I will be running both the radiator and aftermarket coolers because the transmission shop I deal with highly recommends it. They also recommend running it through the radiator first, then the cooler.
I will mount the cooler and basically unhook the exit side, and run it to the inlet of the aftermarket cooler, then the exit of the cooler to the return line to the transmission. All easier said than done.
Then I have the electric fan to hook up... Not even sure whats involved in that yet. Or how to set the temp that it turns on at.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,258
Likes: 544
From: Appleton WI
I agree with your mechanic's advice on leaving the stock cooler in place and adding the external unit after the radiator. Makes good sense.
Not sure which hose is the inlet for the trans cooler. Any chance there is an arrow on the line indicating flow direction? I have a manual so I cannot look for myself.
Not sure which hose is the inlet for the trans cooler. Any chance there is an arrow on the line indicating flow direction? I have a manual so I cannot look for myself.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 409
From: Portland OR
Easy to test. Remove one connection. Disable either the ignition or the injectors and crank the engine a few revolutions. It will be obvious which direction the fluid flows.
The supplier of my transmission requires bypassing the in radiator cooler/heater or the warranty is void.
Ron
The supplier of my transmission requires bypassing the in radiator cooler/heater or the warranty is void.
Ron
