Would you suggest a tranny cooler?

[Silverblade]

Hey guys im going to be heading out in about a week to pick up my buddies dune buggy(just a VW pan and a sand rail body) and tow it back on the highway for about an hour and a half, i have the SOHC and 5 spd auto, should I get a tranny cooler or will I be fine with just taking O/D off and taking it easy?

 

[Mbrooks420]

Do yourself a favor and get a cooler. It can't hurt, and it may save you a expensive rebuild.

 

[dgibson]

Tranny cooler will be a good thing to get. The trip might not seem like it hurts the x now, but in the long run you will see it.

 

[Black Magic]

Can those of you familiar with them recommend one and where to get it? Also if you have ever installed one what is involved?

 

[james t]

get the biggest one you can fit. i call mine the "Fiero radiator". took about 30 minutes to install. try www.summmitracing.com or www.jegs.com

 

[SteveVB]

Heres a shot of my B&M cooler. You dont need to use the AN fittings, but this style plate type cooler is much better than a tube and fin. Stock cooler is on the right, aftermarket on the left.

Install took a couple hours- I removed the grill, and fabbed up new brackets. The hoses just run from the tube out of the rad to new cooler, and then from new cooler to tube back to transmission.

 

[Silverblade]

Im nto worried about the install too much because me and my best friend are like "the guys" in the auto and metal shop like top in the class and most priority so I can use a lift and the air tools and all that mumbo jumbo, my only problem is im 17 and dont have a credit card so everytime someone suggests ordering off the web im kinda SOL....what about like Lordco or those type places...are they worth it or just sell crap?

 

[Mbrooks420]

A tranny cooler is a tranny cooler. Generally the bigger the better. Most auto shops auround here carry the "rv" cooler for under 30 bucks. You can install witrh custom bracketry or use the plastic push pins that go through your radiator fins.

 

[Silverblade]

Thanx for all the help guys, I wont be towing it anymore but I will still probably get one.....the stupid ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* ..."guy" sold me and my buddies sand rail on us to some guy who he wont tell us who and without tellign us or getting our consent soooooooooo ya im a lil mad.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Originally posted by Silverblade
ya im a lil mad.

Heh...that's an understatement. That sucks man. Sorry to hear that.

 

[99 X]

Silverblade

I would suggest that every auto transmission needs a tranny cooler. With respect to Fords once that trans fluid reaches 250 degrees, it is junk. It is my opinion that you and everyone should have a cooler as well as a temp gauge. First install the gauge an see what kind of temps you are running. The best way to manage tranny temps is with an 'active' cooler, which is a plate system with a built-in electric fan. With this installed you can tow or blow the doors off a Jeep (if the need arises) and still keep your tranny temps around 175 degrees.

The regular passive type coolers certainly can cool at highway speeds, but to do it right the active cooler is the way to go. Unfortunately active coolers are not had for $30 or anything like $30 - perhaps more like $250 - 300. Most folks will not drop that kind of cash for a cooler.

I personally will have to deal with this issue on my new 03 with the 4.6. I plan to go the route of active tranny cooling rather than deal with eventual tranny rebuilding.

Just my 2 cents

eb

 

[Silverblade]

Shattered dreams lol I dont have the cash for that right now unfortunetely....how much does the $30 version compare to the active ones? I will probably go that route....or drive the **** out of it in the next 378 i think days so I have a full warranty and hope for it not to blow on the 379th day lol jk.

 

[Pheonixx77]

lol if you want to blow an auto trans just slam it into park at about 10 mph...that wil do it fine...not that i would suggest that, in fact dont do it, that was only a refrence. or just run it on no fluid for a day...

 

[Mbrooks420]

No warranty would cover obvious abuse. And going into park at 10mph won't blow a trans. It prob. wouldn't even damage it. A traditional cooler will still lower the trans fluid temp considerably, and is still well worth it IMO.

 

[james t]

IMHO- the fan is only good for low speeds/trail usage. you get much more airflow at normal towing speeds (50-75mph) than the fan can pull. now, out on the trail, THAT is were the fan will really shine.

 

[Silverblade]

My buddy hit it into park backing up at about 5mph and now sometimes i have to reef on it to get it out of park and it goes clunk..... anyways thanks for the advice guys i am pretty set now.

 

[jjue]

All tow vehicles with an automatic need a transmission cooler, and the bigger the merrier. My dad's '94 Ex has over 117-120k miles or so, and it's still the original tranmission and shifts great. It does have the tow package with 3.73 gears and the transmission cooler, and it did tow a fairly heavy fiberglass boat for a while, and the previous owner pulled a utility trailer for some of his curbing jobs. I'm planning on upgrading my tranny cooler to a TCI unit or a Permacool unit with a fan on my '97 Mountaineer whenever I might start pulling a heavy load again, but an aluminum Bass Tracker isn't really that heavy of a load for the distance that we drive.