Vararam transmission cooler advice

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Aug 10, 2025 | 02:59 PM

huggerorange73

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Burning Brakes

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From: Maricopa, AZ

2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified

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St. Jude Donor '12-'13

Vararam transmission cooler advice

The vararam was on the car when I bought it, then I added a bunch of mods including a 3600 and a stacked plate trans cooler which was fine back in Illinois.

I since moved to Arizona and upgraded to a Dewitts radiator which keeps the car between 200 -210 when its 110+....problem is the trans temps get north of 200 in traffic. Looking at where the cooler is placed isn't ideal as the vararam is basically blocking the flow past it.

Also wondering if the shroud is hacked up incorrectly as well. Wondering if anyone else has dealt with this, and what the solution was? Different air intake? Reworked shroud? A fin style cooler? Not sure where else to place the current cooler.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Aug 10, 2025 | 03:47 PM

Aardwolf

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From: WI

How much more than 200? In traffic the fan is going to matter a lot. Make sure the condenser is clean so air can get through.

Haltech sells a air filter lid that can help seal the shroud that was cut to large. Link:

https://www.halltechsystems.com/Hall...beehive400.htm

Aug 10, 2025 | 04:29 PM

huggerorange73

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 1,232

Likes: 1,201

From: Maricopa, AZ

2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified

2025 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified

2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

St. Jude Donor '12-'13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aardwolf

It can get up in the 220s which is not what I want to see.

Fans are tweaked a bit and they keep the cooking system happy, just keep going back to the majority of the trans cooler blocked by the vararam.

Pulled it apart to get a better look.

Aug 10, 2025 | 08:28 PM

Aardwolf

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From: WI

I trimmed the vararam scoop on mine so more of the radiator is exposed. You could try that and switching to less antifreeze more water mix.

Aug 10, 2025 | 08:42 PM

huggerorange73

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 1,232

Likes: 1,201

From: Maricopa, AZ

2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified

2025 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified

2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

St. Jude Donor '12-'13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aardwolf

I trimmed the vararam scoop on mine so more of the radiator is exposed. You could try that and switching to less antifreeze more water mix.

My coolant temps are fine (thanks DeWitts) its my trans temps that are the issue.

Aug 11, 2025 | 02:15 PM

Aardwolf

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From: WI

Quote:

Originally Posted by huggerorange73

My coolant temps are fine (thanks DeWitts) its my trans temps that are the issue.

Didn't get a radiator with built in cooler? My normal advice is leave trans in radi unless track use then go separate.

Aug 11, 2025 | 03:15 PM

huggerorange73

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 1,232

Likes: 1,201

From: Maricopa, AZ

2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified

2025 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified

2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

St. Jude Donor '12-'13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aardwolf

Didn't get a radiator with built in cooler? My normal advice is leave trans in radi unless track use then go separate.

Bypassed the radiator cooler as soon as the 3600 stall went in.

Aug 19, 2025 | 08:20 PM

huggerorange73

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 1,232

Likes: 1,201

From: Maricopa, AZ

2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified

2025 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified

2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

St. Jude Donor '12-'13

Update:

Pulled the vararam off the car. Pulled the hacked up radiator shroud off as well.

Was able to order a new shroud from GM and went with an AFE air intake setup. Installed everything today and the issues have been resolved, even in the triple digit heat with the AC on.

Success!