Trans cooler

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jrosey

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I got a 383 I'm putting in my 69 dart but want to know some opinions should I cool the 727 from the radiator or should I get a trans cooler. It came out of a 70 newport and I'm not sure but belive it originally had a trans cooler because the lines go in front of the oil pan and face pass inner fender. If so how big do I need they have ones on ebay for $40
 
Id plumb them into the radiator, trans usually always cools from rad. Oil or power steering is usually the only thing run separate and uses a finned miniature aluminum cooler
 
are you using a high stall converter?I believe the "rad cooler" is used to warm the fluid for cold weather.
 
This is an external trans cooler and same principle is applied with a trans cooler thats integrated into the radiator. On our light cars a external trans cooler isnt needed, a integrated cooler will effectively keep up with cooling demands for the trans in these cars.


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As op mentioned it came out of a newport, a big heavy car. An external trans cooler was more than likely used because of the cooling demands of the engine. A heavier vehicle requires a greater cooling capability for the engine. Instead of using a integrated trans cooler in the rad the used a external cooler to allow the rad to put all its cooling capability toward cooling the engine.


If they were for warming the fluid then they wouldnt be installed in the south, just as block heaters arent common in the south and popular in the north due to the use. If trans cooler was for warming the fluid than they wouldnt be installed in vehicles in the south and only the north.
 
your transmission should run 180 - 190.
I used an external cooler alone with a warm 340 and a 9 1/2" Dynamic converter and never saw the temp over 160...not good.
I would run it through the rad to help keep it warm.
I doubt if they would make separate rads for the southern states..and if they did at what north south mile would be the
changeover?
..i suppose running your trans fluid through a 180 radiator could regulate it somewhat..it's only an 8" double wall tube.
 
If you experience too high a trans fluid temp consistently, then install a cooler along with a temperature bypass valve for cold operation to help it warm up. Beyond 210 or 220 F is getting too warm, IMHO. My son's '65 Cuda and 340/904 shows the trans temp getting beyond that temp range on long, hard, high speed climbs in the mountains, in fall temps in western VA. We'll watch this summer to see where it gets and make a final decision on adding a trans cooler, or not.

The one issue for too cold that I am aware of is poor shifting.
 
jrosey said:
I got a 383 I'm putting in my 69 dart but want to know some opinions should I cool the 727 from the radiator or should I get a trans cooler. It came out of a 70 newport and I'm not sure but belive it originally had a trans cooler because the lines go in front of the oil pan and face pass inner fender. If so how big do I need they have ones on ebay for $40
Click to expand...

I run a B&M plate type cooler from Kragens but just by itself not through the radiator and it never sees above 190 even in the summer heat w/an 8" vert in a 9-sec BB 470 stroker............
 
Most trans coolers suggest plumbing in series w/ the radiator cooler, I recall before it. The advantage of skipping the radiator is you no longer worry about coolant in the tranny (bad) or vice-versa. But, if you go that route, good to monitor tranny oil temp or have a thermal switch actuate a fan.
 
The right answer biggest 'plate' style you can find. I have the B&M supercooler 11x11x1.5" .

Tube and fin isn't as efficient, you need a bigger one to get the same effects as a plate style.

The cooler the better. Period.
 
Re the "too cold" question, I just rebuilt the Torqueflite tranny in my 1996 Voyager. A few years later, they added a temperature regulator valve to the cooling circuit which limits cooling to keep the fluid sufficiently warm. I have one because using a ~1998 valve body. I think it works by bypassing the cooler, since restricting the flow would starve the tranny. I don't know the exact reason, but think it has more to do with affecting the shift points (as stated), and was for vehicles in sub-zero winters. Otherwise, cooler is generally better for transmissions.
 
I run an external cooler on my racecar only. I don't see much reason to heat the fluid up on purpose by running it through the radiator. Maybe if you live up north and drive in 30-40 degree temperatures regularly... Heat is the killer of all automatics, keep them 180 or below at all times, and they last a long time.
 
Stock torque converter, stock transmission, Iowa, not towing= probably not necessary to add an external cooler.

If you have a higher stall converter and do any racing, add one in line with the radiator cooler. I live in AZ plus I have a slightly higher than stock converter 2600rpm so I can benefit from one. I have a smaller plate type cooler plumbed in after fluid leaves the radiator.
 
Well if the trans fluid is at 250 F... then the rad will 'cool' it LOL.... it's all relative.

My son may add an external cooler up front with a temp bypass on his '65 Cuda. The trans fluid temp is getting up to 225-240F -ish on the interstate with just a 2500 stall TC and with air temps just at 70F. It does have an external cooler in line with the rad cooler, but it is one like this one below and is under the car and too near to one exhaust pipe; not a good installation...

http://www.gowesty.com/product-details.php?id=4481
 
34996d1331154329-transmission-temp-trans-life-expectancy.jpg
 
Wish I could tell you a temp number, but I never had a gauge. I ran a manual valve bodied 904 behind a 340 for 10 years with only a B&M plate (8X11 I think). Never had a problem, nor burned smelling fluid. I know, not very scientific, but.....
 
Everything's relative for sure.
Lots of engine transplants/upgrades might require a radiator upgrade as well. Lots of aluminum upgrade radiators don't have tranny coolers unless they're a bit custom. Therefore you might want an external tranny cooler as 1972 Demon has. Nice job there by the way. My 67 was a 273 car upgraded to a 360 magnum with a new be cool radiator installed without a built in tranny cooler. It now has an aftermarket aluminum combination engine oil and tranny cooler installed in front of the radiator and works pretty darn well. If it doesn't have a radiator with a built in cooler than it should for sure have something external if you want to keep those temps reasonable in our hot rod world. Just my opinion of coarse.:burnout:

Great chart there Tantibus.
 
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