trans cooler ?s

[james_8997]

ok this weekend im putting a trans cooler on my truck, and change the oil and filter,,,it doesnt look hard, but is there anything i should know before i start??

[james_8997]

guess thats a no, would it be worth doing a write up for everyone?

[Dave12]

When you say you're changing the oil and filter are you talking about changing the engine oil and filter or the transmission fluid and filter? Need to know what you're doing before any help can be given.

Adding a tranny cooler is a piece of cake. Just follow the instructions that come with it. Your truck likely already has a cooler built into the rad. You just need to tap in the line and mount the cooler to the rad with the supplied t-straps.

Dave

[C & A s Dad]

A couple of things on the cooler. First of all, be sure you get a stacked plate designed cooler and preferably a 3/4" thick model and not one of the 1.5" thick models. The stacked plate designed coolers are much more efficient than the old tube and fin coolers. They also are much less restrictive.

If you will PM me your e mail address, I will send you some really good pics of my cooler installed. I upgraded my 5" x 11" x 3/4" OE cooler to one 11" x 11" x 3/4" and mounted it to the "A" frame where the OE cooler was mounted. Nothing really wrong with the zip tie method through the A/C condensor but if you can get the cooler out in front of the condensor, you will be much better off.

[james_8997]

Originally Posted by Dave12

When you say you're changing the oil and filter are you talking about changing the engine oil and filter or the transmission fluid and filter? Need to know what you're doing before any help can be given.

Adding a tranny cooler is a piece of cake. Just follow the instructions that come with it. Your truck likely already has a cooler built into the rad. You just need to tap in the line and mount the cooler to the rad with the supplied t-straps.

Dave

LOL sry, trans fluid and filter, iv done it once already but this time im gonna completely flush it. and i found a cooler at Advanced for 40 bucks, it looked pretty thick, its rated for towin 10000lbs. im sure that plenty for what i need

[james_8997]

and i planned on talkin tha grill off, and mounting it in front of the AC con. if thats what C and A was talkin about, puttin it all back togther and call it a day.....how hard is a trans temp gauge to install?

[Dave12]

Here is a quick and dirty trick for changing trans fluid and intalling the probe for a temp gauge. I did this on my 98 Z71 6.5 Diesel.

Get yourself a B&M or similar drain plug kit. The plug is the same thread size as the probe for the temp gauge. To drain the fluid pick the spot on your pan where you're going to mount the drain plug. On the 4L80E there is a nice flat spot towards the back of the pan. Drill a 1/4" hole until it just breaks through the metal, have your catch container ready to catch the fluid. Once all the fluid is drained drop the pan. Drill out the hole to the proper size for the drain plug, usually 1/2", clean the pan up really well, install the plug but instead of putting the "plug" in use the temp probe to plug the hole. Finish the rest of your service and re-install the pan and connect the wire to the probe for your gauge.

You want to measure the temp of the fluid in the pan or the "sump" temp. Some will say to install the probe in the "test port" or in one of the lines but you won't get a ture reading in any of those locations.

Now the next time you want to change your tranny fluid you just remove the probe and your fluid will drain out and you don't have to mess with trying to drop the pan with all the fluid in it.

Dave

[james_8997]

ummm, sounds nice lol thanks. so does everything else sound good?

[Dave12]

I would contact C&A for his info on the cooler install and you should be all set.

How were you planning on "flushing" the tranny?

Dave

[Knoxy]

im thinking of doing this on my truck here really really soon! i talked to the dealer the other day and he said i will need 4 3/8" barbed fittings to fit on the rad and the tranny.... true or not! OH and PM sent to C&A Dad... thanks guys!

oh... and the whole thing about drilling into your tranny? i wouldnt go near that with a ten foot pole! are you crazy?

in regards to the gauge.... when you pick it up does it come with the probe that you put into your tranny? and where do you put it?
what would be the best manufacture for these to match a black interior?

thanks guys!

[C & A s Dad]

Knoxy, I replied to your PM.

If you are interested in a trans temp gauge look into an Interceptor Scan Gauge by Aeroforce. It simply plugs into your OBD II port and is ready to go. It will read approx 28 functions from your ECM including trans temp. Here is a link to their website. http://www.aeroforcetech.com/

There are others on the market as well but they are rectangular in shape and do not have the "cool factor" that this one has IMO. I mounted mine on my "A" Pillar in a single gauge pod painted to match my interior. I will send you a pic when I send you the others.

James, if possible, mount the cooler on the "A" shaped bracket that is just in front of your A/C Condensor. This allows for great airflow and maximum cooling.

[Dave12]

Originally Posted by Knoxy

im thinking of doing this on my truck here really really soon! i talked to the dealer the other day and he said i will need 4 3/8" barbed fittings to fit on the rad and the tranny.... true or not! OH and PM sent to C&A Dad... thanks guys!

oh... and the whole thing about drilling into your tranny? i wouldnt go near that with a ten foot pole! are you crazy?

in regards to the gauge.... when you pick it up does it come with the probe that you put into your tranny? and where do you put it?
what would be the best manufacture for these to match a black interior?

thanks guys!

You're not drilling into the tranny, you're drilling into the tranny pan. If you can't control a drill well enough to do that then you shouldn't be using a drill. I did it, no problem. What is there to hurt? That is why I said drill just until it breaks through.

Dave

[NEUMANNZZ]

If your worried about drilling the pan remove it first.

[Knoxy]

my bad.. sorry... no need for harshness! thanks again C&a.

i will look into that guage as well.. but i was thinking about doing a cluster of guages along the frame of my truck! do you know where i can get that?

[james_8997]

hey water or mud wont miss up the probe will it?

[Dave12]

Originally Posted by Knoxy

my bad.. sorry... no need for harshness! thanks again C&a.

i will look into that guage as well.. but i was thinking about doing a cluster of guages along the frame of my truck! do you know where i can get that?

No problem.

If you're talking about the gauge pods that go along the "A" pillar between the door and windshield you can get them at lots of places. Summit racing, ebay, most performance shops etc. I had a 3 gauge cluster of Auto Meter Ultra Lite gauges on my 6.5 diesel. Boost, tranny temp and Exhaust gas Temp. I got them off a seller on ebay for a good price.

Dave

[Dave12]

Originally Posted by james_8997

hey water or mud wont miss up the probe will it?

You'll have no problems. I've had the probe mounted the way I described right on the bottom of the pan. It's been through 2 Canadian winters of slush, snow, salt, mud and crap and it's fine. You can cover it in some heatshrink for extra protection.

Dave