Trans Cooler
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Trailering
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
Trans Cooler
Hi Folks,
Long story short I am looking for advice on after marker trans cooler for me 73 F250.
My plan is to drive it this summer hauling a 10 foot trailer (maybe 5k load?) from SoCal to Idaho.
I need to make sure this can handle some heat given my journey ahead of me.
The radiator that I had installed has a break somewhere in the trans cooler section, so I am just going to plug where the trans lines come in and run the external trans cooler, so I am guessing I need a big one.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Long story short I am looking for advice on after marker trans cooler for me 73 F250.
My plan is to drive it this summer hauling a 10 foot trailer (maybe 5k load?) from SoCal to Idaho.
I need to make sure this can handle some heat given my journey ahead of me.
The radiator that I had installed has a break somewhere in the trans cooler section, so I am just going to plug where the trans lines come in and run the external trans cooler, so I am guessing I need a big one.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,935
Likes: 4,124
From: Angier, NC
Yes you want the largest cooler you can get maybe even 2 coolers.
Most of the time you run the cooler in the radiator then to the after market cooler back to the trans.
Because you dont have the radiator cooler is why I say 2 coolers.
Dave ----
Most of the time you run the cooler in the radiator then to the after market cooler back to the trans.
Because you dont have the radiator cooler is why I say 2 coolers.
Dave ----
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 932
Likes: 394
From: Port Orchard, WA
I’ve got an unused one in my garage. It came with a truck I bought. I’d give you a good deal on it as I plan on selling my only automatic truck. It is a Long Tru-Cool LPD. Open box but never used. $50+shipping for FTE members.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 384
Likes: 198
From: Port Charlotte, Florida
If you're handy, you could possibly make one. In the late 1960s my parents bought their first travel trailer. My Dad (an engineer) knew his '67 Country Squire would need extra transmission fluid cooling. He dug around at a metal scrap yard and bought a condenser unit from a discarded commercial refrigerator. It used 1/4 in. tubing. He cleaned it out thoroughly, bought some tubing and fittings to make the lines to connect it, and mounted it in front of the Ford's radiator with zip-ties. Worked like a charm and cost almost nothing.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,836
Likes: 2,612
From: The Shenandoah Valley
Could just use a 25 foot coil of 5/16" OD copper tubing or that brake line tubing .... routed around the truck frame, away from exhaust. Run it down one side, cross at the rear, run it back up the other side. Could add a loop through a bucket where you could pour cold water to really cool that section. Could set the whole new in box coil into a cooler full of ice water? Just ideas.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 87
Likes: 4
Just use a motorcycle oil cooler. You can find them all over, My 74 F250 Camper Special has an original
one on it and it's about the same size as the MC cooler. Mounted in front of the radiator.
one on it and it's about the same size as the MC cooler. Mounted in front of the radiator.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,935
Likes: 4,124
From: Angier, NC
I would look at Summit Racing or Jeggs for a new one.
The line run under the truck down 1 side to the other will not get any air flow unless moving and then may not be vary good.
When placed in front of the radiator the fan will be pulling air thru even went not moving.
Also note if you use rubber hose it has to stand up to oil / ATF as normal fuel line will not for vary long.
I do like the temp gauge and was thinking about posting to get one but did not
BTW I have a 76 E350 with a 460 / C6 that I pulled a 2 car trailer with. It used the radiator cooler and 2 large after market coolers and even with them after a hard tow you could not touch the last cooler it was so hot.
Never a worry about being to cold in the New England winters with the 2 coolers as we used the truck for trash runs also.
Dave ----
The line run under the truck down 1 side to the other will not get any air flow unless moving and then may not be vary good.
When placed in front of the radiator the fan will be pulling air thru even went not moving.
Also note if you use rubber hose it has to stand up to oil / ATF as normal fuel line will not for vary long.
I do like the temp gauge and was thinking about posting to get one but did not
BTW I have a 76 E350 with a 460 / C6 that I pulled a 2 car trailer with. It used the radiator cooler and 2 large after market coolers and even with them after a hard tow you could not touch the last cooler it was so hot.
Never a worry about being to cold in the New England winters with the 2 coolers as we used the truck for trash runs also.
Dave ----
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 67
Likes: 38
Head to the scrap yard. Late model trucks and SUVs have great trans coolers. Also could use the factory ac evaporator if you don't use your ac. My dad always used the AC evaporator as a trans cooler in the demo derby days. Just FYI, if you get one from the scrap yard, clean it thoroughly. If the vehicle had a bad trans, the cooler could have metal in it that would find its way into your transmission.
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