Tranny cooler install?

[tonga3]

Has anyone here installed a tranny cooler at home? If so how hard was it and ant tips would be great.

Thanks
Andy

 

[JDraper]

Piece-o-cake to do it. Takes about 1 hour. No special tips, just have a catch pan ready to catch any excess fluid when you put it in line, and have extra tranny fluid handy to refill since your system will now take a little more fluid.

 

[tonga3]

Does it go inline with the existing cooler in the rad or does that one get by-passed?

 

[DocVijay]

Mine is inatalled inline with the radiator cooler.

 

[yob_yeknom]

It goes in-line with the one in the radiator. Definitely don't bypass it! Just make sure you put it after the one in the radiator, otherwise you would be defeating the purpose of the new cooler.

 

[tonga3]

Were those lines difficult to un-do, I've heard of people snapping the fittings before.

 

[yob_yeknom]

You don't have to undo any lines. You just cut into the return line and splice the cooler into it.

 

[Hartman]

I have a few questions as well:

1. For me, splicing in the lines isn't a problem, but finding the right line to spilce into is. Does the kits come with good instructions? I'd hate to cut into the wrong line.

2. When you cut into the line, how much fluid leaks out?

3. Is a tranny fluid change neccessary afterwards?

 

[JDraper]

1. The lines to splice into are the two smaller lines that go to the radiator. The kits usually have decent instructions.

2. When I installed mine, I lost about a cup of tranny fluid.

3. No need to flush, but you will have to top off the system.

 

[Hokie]

If you're worried about fluid loss pinch off the tubing on either side of the cut. You'll just loose what's between the 2 clamps

 

[Hartman]

Good tip, thanks.

 

[yob_yeknom]

I'm not sure how you could pinch the tubing so it won't leak, but you won't lose much fluid anyways. You want to splice into the bottom metal tube coming from the driver's side of the radiator.

The cooler will come with some plastic thingies (technical term) that push through the gaps in the fins of the new cooler and the radiator, then have clips to put on the back of them to hold them in place. That's all it takes to mount the cooler. Then just cut the metal tube using a tube cutter (small tool with a sharp wheel on it that you spin around the tube) so it will not pinch the tube together. Run the hose that comes with the cooler from the tube to the cooler and back and use clamps to keep it from leaking. If the kit does not come with a long enough hose, make sure you go buy fuel hose. Tranny fluid will eat away regular vaccuum hose.

 

[Pheonixx77]

so the sending line is on pass side of radiator? i want to know for a diff reason. where would you mount a second cooler at? did not know you could do that. hmmm

 

[yob_yeknom]

Both tubes are on the driver's side of the radiator. You just mount the cooler in front of the radiator.

 

[Hartman]

yob, I just ordered a tranny filter, would that splice into the same house on the drivers side bottom of the radiator?

 

[Pheonixx77]

ummm not to be rude man but BOTH of my lnes are on PASSENGER side of the truck. if you look at my cardomain page i have some pcs of my trans temp gauge install (today) and both lines are for the trans cooler. i know this cause when i cut into them the bled trans fluid. and they run to the cooler..lol

 

[Hokie]

Originally posted by yob_yeknom
I'm not sure how you could pinch the tubing so it won't leak, but you won't lose much fluid anyways. You want to splice into the bottom metal tube coming from the driver's side of the radiator.

Oh yeah, don't listen to me. I thought you were splicing rubber hoses. Don't pinch metal hoses

 

[Hartman]

I thought the hoses were rubber?

 

[JDraper]

Depends upon the year and model. Some are rubber and some are metal.