Installing transmission cooler

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May 10, 2011 | 11:37 PM

lumprsmith F150

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From: Sandy OR

Installing transmission cooler

I'm installing a 18500 gvw tube and fin cooler on my 1994 F150 5.0.It has a small factory one on it now.Should I disconnect the smaller cooler or run one into the other so I'd be using both? I tow a travel trailer 2 or 3 times a year that weights about 4500-5000 lbs and know I'm pushing it a little but take my time and it does the job OK,no racing up hills!!
Thanks for any info..

May 12, 2011 | 11:48 PM

85e150

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Run both. I think you want the aftermarket cooler AFTER the stocker. There was a thread on that a while back, and I was "corrected" about running the stocker first vs. second. I always thought you'd run the stocker second, but the poster made a solid case for stock first, aftermarket second.

Bump to the top, maybe you'll get another voice on this.

May 13, 2011 | 08:21 AM

lumprsmith F150

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From: Sandy OR

Thanks,I thought you would run first but can run the stock then the aftermarket.Again with a no brainier do the tubes need to be horizontal? I've got more room to play with if I mount it vertical (inlet and outlet on the bottom)

May 13, 2011 | 08:55 PM

Blurry94

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From: Calhoun GA

I honestly don't think it matters where you end up plumbing that tube and fin type cooler, as long as you keep the factory cooler in place. A tube and fin cooler will not cool as well as a stacked plate (OEM type) cooler.

On a side note, I would recommend a cooler from a 99+ Super Duty as an upgrade. They have a large frontal surface (twice as much as my factory GEN 1 L cooler) an they're stacked plate type coolers.