I'm playing with the idea of installing a tranny cooler on my 91 F150, 300/6, E4OD 4X2. Can anyone take me through the steps in this process?

Also, where does the cooler mount? Do the new lines to the new cooler hook up to the existing lines? Do I still make use of the radiator or just the new cooler? Anyone know the cheapest place for a new tranny cooler? Thanks.

Guy

 

If I did it over again, I would mount the tranny cooler back by the tail of the tranny, away from the exhaust and not bother trying to run to the radiator. However, you can just remove the lower fitting to the cooler and place a new fitting (usually comes in the cooler installation kit) in the radiator connect one end of the hose to the radiator and the other to the cooler. On the other end of the cooler, connect the hose from the cooler to the metal tranny return line. This will allow the hot fluid in the top line to flow through the radiator first, and then through the cooler before returning to the tranny. You are probably more efficient mounting the cooler in a location that gets good air movement and bypassing the radiator than mounting in a location that gets less air flow. If you really want to do the job right, get a cooler with an electric fan mounted on it. Then run your power steering fluid through the radiator to give it some added cooling. Summit Racing and Jegs have good prices, but JC Whitney sells the same brand for a few dollars less. Make sure that you get it heavy enough to handle all your towing capabilities. Don't place the cooler between your A/C condenser and radiator. It's OK if you want to mount it in front of the condenser near the grill.

Slik



>I'm playing with the idea of installing
>a tranny cooler on my 91
>F150, 300/6, E4OD 4X2. Can
>anyone take me through the steps
>in this process?
>Also, where does the cooler mount?
>Do the new lines to the
>new cooler hook up to the
>existing lines? Do I still
>make use of the radiator or
>just the new cooler? Anyone
>know the cheapest place for a
>new tranny cooler? Thanks.
>Guy

 

Retain the use of the cooler that's in the radiator. Tranny fluid will often run hotter than coolant. Get a name brand cooler from Summit (www.summitracing.com), Auto-zone, Pep Boys, etc.. Comes with complete simple instructions. Get an extra qt. of fluid as you'll loose a little, and the cooler holds some. It'll mount in front of the radiator (or if you have A/C, it'll mount on the front of the condensor).

I also installed a deep, aluminum tranny pan (got it from Summit). It has a drain plug for easy service, holds 3 more quarts, and has cooling fins cast into the bottom. I installed a temp gauge with the sensor mounted in the pan (had to drill and tap a hole). Towing my travel trailer, I've never seen over 200 degrees! Heat kills auto trannys.

DM