tranny cooler
 

OK, possible dumn question since the last Stocker I built was a stick car, do I need to run a tranny cooler? I know in my buddies Comp car we don't and honestly never look for ones at the track Turbo 350

Will Lamprecht I/SA 65 Impala 396/325 in progress

Re: tranny cooler
 

No.

Re: tranny cooler
 

Yes.

Re: tranny cooler
 

My Pro Trans cooler line fittings are plugged, evidently bypassed internally. Ditto my Rossler. No cooler provisions on either. Evidently not needed.

Re: tranny cooler
 

Will,

This is personal opinion, I have no testing to back up my opinion. It simply seems reasonable to me that a trans cooler is a good thing.

My thought is I am always look at being in the late rounds, in the final and if the last two or three runs come close together [which is to be expected] a cooler will be a very good thing.

Consider this chain of events, with a cooler anytime the engine is running fluid is passing through it. So, late rounds, things are happening quickly, on the return road, pulling up in the lanes, moving into the water box, fluid is flowing through the cooler.

That has to be some advantage over no cooling ability. I seems to me the fluid temp has potential to be more reasonable than without a cooler.

Re: tranny cooler
 

Add a deep finned aluminum pan . I do not know of any stock super stock guys running a cooler. The car is not running long enough for it to do much good. The fluid is only being cooled when the engine is running. Like Ed Wright said most race prepped transmissions are plugged and bypassed internally. Also one less spot for a leak.

Re: tranny cooler
 

Mike, you know of one ss racer running a cooler :) me

Re: tranny cooler
 

Ran my t-350 and proflite with no cooler for a few years, never had a temp gauge on it. This past year decided to race local as my grandson was starting in the junior ranks. So I put a cooler on and a temp gauge, after 1 run trans temp 160, after going a few rounds it would quickly run up to 195-200 would turn fan on that is attached to the cooler by the time I got back to the trailer it would be back to 170 or so. Since I never monitored it before I can't say the cooler helped, but I'd say it can't hurt. I called and asked about a cooler on each trans and was told it wasn't needed. My understanding is the smaller, looser convertors produce more heat, I run a 7 inch 8000 stall, your results may vary.

Re: tranny cooler
 

x2

Re: tranny cooler
 

If you have an in-tank transmission oil cooler (TOC) in your radiator, I would use it because it will help put heat into the transmission faster than without one.

As far as needing a TOC Auxiliary Cooler, I personally think one isn't needed because the transmission will not make enough heat in one pass to require a cooler. But, you also want to be prepared if you have to make multiple passes which will produce enough heat to hurt the trans.
We have used our in-tank radiator TOC for years with no problem.

Re: tranny cooler
 

"be prepared if you have to make multiple passes which will produce enough heat to hurt the trans"

that is my thinking and I always plan to be in the late rounds

Re: tranny cooler
 

Recently I talked with they guys at Turbo Action and Scott Mclay in regards to this. they both told me it wasn't needed. but if you plan on making back to back passes etc then it would be a good idea.

Re: tranny cooler
 

I've been wondering for a while if the car might ET more consistently with the stock-type in-tank cooler. Seems like the trans fluid temp would be more consistent, though maybe higher than with an auxiliary cooler.

Re: tranny cooler
 

Ever since I first started learning about cars, I heard that heat was the main cause of automatic transmission failures, usually due to fluid breakdown (at least on the street). With that in mind, I always ran a cooler and now Amsoil synthetic transmission fluid. Granted that modern technology has deveoped more durable parts & fluids and the firm shifts from race valve bodies reduce slippage and heat. But you'll still get a build-up when they start "hot-lapping" and especially with trans-brake equipped cars. So I figure it's good insurance and worth the little extra weight and time needed to disconnect hoses for R&R.

So Mike Pearson knows more people with coolers than he thought!

Re: tranny cooler
 

It isn't the heat that is the enemy of your transmission, it is excessive heat that destroys the internals of a transmission. I have always liked the radiator in-tank (water to oil) coolers, because of the fact the transmission will get up to operating temperature quicker, and in turn lubricate the internal components better and faster. Also, an in-tank cooler (water to oil) cooler is more efficient than an Auxilary (air to oil) cooler.

Re: tranny cooler
 

I just removed my cooler and fan, and put a dual Moroso heat sink in place of them. You can mount it on the frame rail to get a little weight off the front, and it's supposed to cool pretty well.

We'll see.

Re: tranny cooler
 

I run a trans cooler just to be safe. The cooler lines and cooler can't possibly slow you down they only weigh a couple of pounds.

Re: tranny cooler
 

I'd be inclined to plumb a trans temp gage into an external bypass line to see whether I needed a cooler, or not, without sacrificing a transmission un-necessarily to find out.

External coolers in the radiator started as a Heavy Duty option on some cars of the 50s/60s. Standard was air cooled via holey Bell housings and finny torque converters.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...389a122d8a.jpg

http://forums.aaca.org/uploads/month...3142564952.jpg

Re: tranny cooler
 

Monitor your tranny heat. Late rounds my glide only runs little over 180 degrees with no cooler. It's a ten second car and I don't stall it out on the two step.

There is nothing wrong with running a cooler but not needed if heat isn't a problem.

Re: tranny cooler
 

I want to thank everybody for your input. I am happy I am to the point where I need to start making some "real" race part decisions for the build. Want to have tranny ready in car when i drop motor in. It's been a long haul (2 plus years) but a painted done roller now.

Will Lamprecht Div 1 I/SA 65 Impala progressing !

Re: tranny cooler
 

I had one of the old Russell heat sink coolers mounted under the car near the trans to keep the lines short. It is able to be disassembled and cleaned if needed. Nice, clean setup that didn't rely on airflow. Trans temp gauge with the sender in the pan. I was satisfied with how it worked. 6k converter in a Glide in a .90 car leaving on the mat.

Re: tranny cooler
 

If you buy one of the better professionally built transmissions you often find plugs in the cooler fittings, and the cooler bypassed internally, therefore don't expect a cooler to help.

Re: tranny cooler
 

You're right on that one Ed, had to work on the pump on the T-350 to make the cooler circuit work. The Pro-flite was easier, but should probably call the manufactuer to verify if there is any doubt.

Re: tranny cooler
 

Ask your trans guy if you need a cooler and ask him where to install a temp gage sensor. Can't wait to see you at lebanon . Ken R

Re: tranny cooler
 

Many racers use their cars for dual purpose. Bracket racing / Stk/Ss. I would not want to hot lap any transmission to sacrifice a few lbs.

Re: tranny cooler
 

Will,
Ran the Monza for a short time with no cooler. All was fine until I would have to hot lap it in the late rounds at some of our CCRA races. Consistency fell off noticeably. Put a cooler back on , consistency came back, ran the number, won some cash. My vote put a cooler on it and no worry... - JOE

Re: tranny cooler
 

A cooler is OK to run, but doesn't do much without some airflow running through it. The OEM's usually run an in-tank radiator cooler, and on the Heavy Duty packages add a second cooler, usually an air to oil cooler in front of the radiator. One system I saw a racer made a air to oil cooler system with a set of valves to bypass the cooler. He had a transmission temp gauge and basically bypassed the cooler until the trans got up to the temp he wanted to run at. Best of both worlds !