Transmission cooler question.

[Syleng1]

So I’m setting myself up to take the 904 out of my 70’s van and drop in a 46rh for the overdrive and lockup. It will behind a stout little 318. I don’t know the numbers yet but after build it should be 300hp. Not ment for racing just Cruze with a good sound from the side pipes.

And I have to upgrade the trans cooler lines to 3/8. I have a brand new Derale stacked transmission cooler (20,000btu) I was going to use ( been sitting on the shelf for 3 years now) but not sure if it is large enough. On paper it is; the gvw of the van is 6010lbs. Multiply times 3 (safety factor) and I’m at just over 18k. This cooler is rated for 20k but it is kinda small looking. Anyone else care to chime in who knows what they are talking about? Thanks in advance.
Syleng1

 

[Syleng1]

 

[oldkimmer]

That stacked cooler is way more than enough. No worries there. The old style was never enough. Kim

 

[Icetech]

That one should be plenty, i went overkill.. and also put bulkhead connectors rather than running any rubber, just made it easier.

 

[Syleng1]

That stacked cooler is way more than enough. No worries there. The old style was never enough. Kim

Thank you. I was not sure. I’m still used to the old fashioned tube style you bought at Napa.

 

[Syleng1]

That one should be plenty, i went overkill.. and also put bulkhead connectors rather than running any rubber, just made it easier.
View attachment 1716438143

Overkill is good from my point of view. Better to be safe than sorry I guess.
I hate walking home. Lol!

 

[Icetech]

Overkill is good from my point of view. Better to be safe than sorry I guess.
I hate walking home. Lol!

yeah, i have never had to be towed home, i'm trying to keep it that way I also snuck a power steering cooler under the battery box, and a power steering magnetic filter.

 

[JDMopar]

That cooler should be plenty big enough and then some. Check the fittings on it before plumbing. Box says 6AN fittings and I am pretty sure you need 8AN's. It appears that you can change them on the cooler. I'm doing a 46RH swap into an 88 D100 pickup with a 5.9 Magnum and keeping the fuel injection. I run my 3/8 lines down the drivers side frame rail, using steel braid flex hoses from the trans fittings over to the hard lines. Then I use bulkhead fittings at the radiator support like @Icetech did above. It gets the lines out of the way of the exhaust, starter, etc. I just got my 46RH back from the transmission shop. The decades of experience builder told me to run the stacked plate cooler as a stand-alone and don't go thru the cooler in the radiator at all.

 

[KC69Cuda]

Probably 90% or more of the heat the trans generates is in the converter. You should be fine with a stock or a "tight" higher stall converter.