[toobroketoretire]

Does anyone know how much difference a transmission cooler really makes? I have had two almost-new A/C condensers sitting on my shelf for about 15 years so I finally mounted one on my '71 with it's TH700R4 transmission. After studying the various coolers that Summit Racing stocks I see mine is built much the same way and using the same materials so it should work perfectly. Mine has 130" of 3/8" copper tubing arranged in double rows but I don't think that makes much difference as I'm only using it to supplement my radiator's cooler.


But how much difference will it really make? 10 degrees? 20 degrees? When I come home from the valley I have to pull a 10-mile 6% grade and I'm sure that hard pull really heats my oil up way beyond what it would see during flat-land cruising. Most of the time I run the majority of it in 3rd gear at 1800-2000 rpm to take some of the load off my engine as my speed of 45-50 mph is just enough to allow running in 4th.

[bpassmore]

I believe it depends a lot on the type and quality of the fluids. With the older dead dinosaur oil the cooler the better, the newer synthetics are more forgiving. I run through the air cooler then the radiator, puts it around 200*. 180* T stat. This could start an all new discussion.

[fishslayer143@yahoo.com]

you should switch that around .. mine is thru radiator then thru Auxillary cooler and never goes over 160-170*..TH 700r4 with 3.73 rear gears

[toobroketoretire]

Originally Posted by bpassmore

I believe it depends a lot on the type and quality of the fluids. With the older dead dinosaur oil the cooler the better, the newer synthetics are more forgiving. I run through the air cooler then the radiator, puts it around 200*. 180* T stat. This could start an all new discussion.

I think it should be run thru the radiator cooler first but then I don't know if it would really make any difference in the end. As the radiator cooler is submerged in water it is by far the most efficient at removing heat.

[bpassmore]

I am pulling the temp from a oil pressure tap, that make a difference? Using a SPDT switch to the engine oil temp gauge. The cooler the oil the longer it will last, I'll swap the lines.

[PalmBeachVette76]

I don't use the radiator cooler since it's subject to water temps which are higher than I want the trans temp to run so I bought an external cooler with a stacked plate design (black ones not the old flimsy coolers) and mounted inside the front bumper framing.

I rarely if ever see temps over 150 while my engine temp can be 210+ in HOT summer traffic the trans is chilling. I have a TCI Street fighter TH350 so no overdrive and TCI said 150-180 is perfect. I have seen 170ish once or twice but that was when the cooler was mounted in front of the radiator but after installing a Vintage Air system I moved to cooler since the condenser was going where the trans cooler used to be located.

So in my case it works. My Dewitts radiator doesn't have any provisions for a cooler since I ordered it that way and no problems at all.

I use an Autometer Sport Comp II gauge with a temp sensor mounted in the rear side panel of the pan.

[fishslayer143@yahoo.com]

Originally Posted by bpassmore

I am pulling the temp from a oil pressure tap, that make a difference? Using a SPDT switch to the engine oil temp gauge. The cooler the oil the longer it will last, I'll swap the lines.

the temp will show higher there..

[fishslayer143@yahoo.com]

Originally Posted by PalmBeachVette76

I don't use the radiator cooler since it's subject to water temps which are higher than I want the trans temp to run so I bought an external cooler with a stacked plate design (black ones not the old flimsy coolers) and mounted inside the front bumper framing.

I rarely if ever see temps over 150 while my engine temp can be 210+ in HOT summer traffic the trans is chilling. I have a TCI Street fighter TH350 so no overdrive and TCI said 150-180 is perfect. I have seen 170ish once or twice but that was when the cooler was mounted in front of the radiator but after installing a Vintage Air system I moved to cooler since the condenser was going where the trans cooler used to be located.

So in my case it works. My Dewitts radiator doesn't have any provisions for a cooler since I ordered it that way and no problems at all.

I use an Autometer Sport Comp II gauge with a temp sensor mounted in the rear side panel of the pan.

thats where mine is too, and also Autometer Sport Comp gauges