Transmission Cooler

[skitchin]

Ah, I understand - so getting into the realm of my noobness, where does the coolant flow when the thermostat is closed?

[RobertISaar]

coolant constantly circulates whenever the engine is running. when the thermostat is closed, it just constantly cycles through the block/heads. when it opens up, then it will flow out and into the radiator.

[skitchin]

OBD 1(.5?), can a scanner read transmission temp?

[RobertISaar]

how to do you think i scan and reprogram mine?

a GOOD scanner or pretty much any ALDL cable will work to read off temps.

[Schurkey]

how to do you think i scan and reprogram mine?

a GOOD scanner or pretty much any ALDL cable will work to read off temps.

I admit that I'm surprised that there's a temp sensor in the transmission pre OBD-II. I'm reasonably certain that neither my '92 nor my '93 (both OBD-I) will display trans temp on my scanner.

[RobertISaar]

just depended on the platform. certain GM cars had them all the way back to 91 IIRC. W-bodies got them with the newer style of 4T60E in 93 for 3100s, 94 for 3.4/3.8.

[skitchin]

how to do you think i scan and reprogram mine?

OT here but how do you reprogram? I've always thought you hd to pull the computer and actually reflash a chip. Any info/links appreciated.

[RobertISaar]

another "depends on the application" situation. 93-95 3100 cars (except for the A-bodies) use a reflashable PCM, similar to how the OBD2 units flash through their DLC, we flash via the ALDL connector.

PM me for specifics, lets try to keep this OT.

[rich17]

If it were me I would go to the treasureyard and look through the truck section. You can find most for trucks with a small oil cooler and probally pick it up cheap. And it'll have sme sort of mounting bracket on them

[RobertISaar]

for real fun, hit up the diesel section. some of them have trans coolers the size of our radiators.

[Schurkey]

If it were me I would go to the treasureyard and look through the truck section. You can find most for trucks with a small oil cooler and probally pick it up cheap. And it'll have sme sort of mounting bracket on them

Don't forget to add in the cost of flushing the cooler.

If the transmission those coolers are attached to is blown-up or worn-out, the coolers will be full of wear particles.

[virtuetovice]

I've had a trans cooler from a Chevy Caprice police car on my junkyard trans, in my Cutlass for about a year now and the trans never shows any signs of being too hot, and the fluid is still a nice pretty red color. I see no problem with it. I just did NOT trust my stock trans cooling system after my old trans assploded, god knows what kinds of chunks are floating around in the lines and cooler assembly.

[AWeb80]

I put a cooler on the GP and the Aurora. I'll see if I have pics of it mounted on the GP....

I do know that at idle on a 95* bright sunny day, my trans cooler will be around 175*. I use my dads infrared thermometer. I'd say at idle w/ no airflow, 175* is pretty good. I do know that it takes a bit for the trans to warm up and get into OD. So if you drive on the Hwy right away every morning, it will take 5 mins or so to shift in to OD.

[AWeb80]

*** At first I had it mounted using the zip-tie things that go through the radiator and condensor. PLEASE don't do it this way, it really fucks up the fins*****

I remounted it as shown below:


found the pics

I mounted mine on the drivers side. I used 1/8" alum strips and cut them to fit...nothing fancy....and hold the cooler. I found short bolts in my scrap can and use nylock nuts to mount it. I hasn't moved in the ~8k miles since. On the bottom mounts, There are little notches in the bottom of the rad support where the bolts slip right in to.

On the top mounts I used one of the bolts for the engine mount and used another already existing hole and just tapped it for a bolt to thread in.

Then spray painted everything black to hide it a bit.

[skitchin]

Awesome pics Adam - really do like your mounting method way more than those stupid zip ties. This just looks so much cleaner and sturdy. Definitely think I'll try to replicate what you've done here. Thanks!