Combination AC condenser/transmission cooler.

[Mike P 52]

We should be getting the engine and transmission in the Valiant fairly soon so I’m looking at options for the cooling system. The car came with a real nice aluminum crossflow radiator, pretty much the biggest that will fit the car. It cooled the 508 without much trouble and I’m planning on re-using it with the Gen 1 HEMI I'm installing. The down side is it doesn’t have a transmission cooler, and even if it did chances are it likely wouldn’t be sufficient.


The big killer on the 518 type transmissions (including the 46RH like I’m using) is heat, which is why they use 3/8” cooler lines and a bigger cooler instead of 5/16” lines and smaller cooler like most cars have. Although I could probably make room to stack a cooler and condenser in front of the radiator I’ve started exploring combination condenser/transmission cooler units.



I was wondering if anybody has any experience, recommendations or thoughts on the combination units.

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[jbc426]

We should be getting the engine and transmission in the Valiant fairly soon so I’m looking at options for the cooling system. The car came with a real nice aluminum crossflow radiator, pretty much the biggest that will fit the car. It cooled the 508 without much trouble and I’m planning on re-using it with the Gen 1 HEMI I'm installing. The down side is it doesn’t have a transmission cooler, and even if it did chances are it likely wouldn’t be sufficient.


The big killer on the 518 type transmissions (including the 46RH like I’m using) is heat, which is why they use 3/8” cooler lines and a bigger cooler instead of 5/16” lines and smaller cooler like most cars have. Although I could probably make room to stack a cooler and condenser in front of the radiator I’ve started exploring combination condenser/transmission cooler units.



I was wondering if anybody has any experience, recommendations or thoughts on the combination units.

.

If it were me, I'd look for a place to mount a separate trans cooler with it's own fan and shroud. It does not have to be in the front of the car either.

You will likely need as large of a Triple-pass condenser as will fit without the heat from a trans cooler affecting it's ability to cool.

 

[Dana67Dart]

My 2006 Dodge Grand caravan has a combo unit.

It's one core thick but if one goes out both have to be replaced