i'm seeing conflicting opinions when i search (surprise)...

building a '52 F3 with a 351/E4OD from a '95 F150. i'm using a new champion aluminum radiator which has the NPT fittings in a small bottom tank to run for tranny cooling. additionally i have the aux tranny cooler from the '95.

so do i run the lines from tranny outlet thru the radiator and then to the aux cooler in front of the radiator and then back to tranny inlet. OR, just skip the radiator altogether and go straight to the aux cooler?

some seem to think the coolant in the radiator could actually raise the temp of the tranny fluid before going to aux cooler.



any advice from pros appreciated.

 

I've tested this. The radiator cooler NEVER heats the transmission fluid. Ever.

I've run into many people that say that it does heat the trans fluid. The one thing that each of them have in common is that they have no testing to back up their claims. They just "know" that it heats the trans fluid.

 

thanks, mark... but does it ever cool it? in other words, worth the extra plumbing, or should the aux cooler be all i need? (2WD, not a tow rig).

 

Yes, it cools it. It's a very, very effective cooler. I recommend using it.

 

GoldCo,

I've done exactly as you suggest - run the auxiliary cooler after the in-radiator cooler. I actually did disconnect the auxiliary cooler in the middle of winter, when the highs were in single digits. I would not hesitate to run two coolers in this manner again, but would like to find a temperature controlled valve to only open flow to the aux. cooler above 180 deg.