Posts: 933
Threads: 151
Joined: Jul 2000
Would I need an external trans cooler if I switched to an after market aluminum radiator with say, a 2500 stall convertor?
Posts: 435
Threads: 13
Joined: Jan 2013
Are you using a external cooler now? What converter are you currently using? More stall equals more heat. 175 ~ 210 is optimal trans temp
If your trans runs hotter than 210 you would need a additional cooling.
Posts: 933
Threads: 151
Joined: Jul 2000
It's a fairbanks...I have a 059 radiator now (318 with AC)
Havent run it yet...just wonder if upgrading to aluminum radiator would suffice rather then running an external cooler
Posts: 625
Threads: 40
Joined: Jun 2013
Personally I wouldn't run on the street without the largest external cooler I can fit. As mentioned, trannies don't like heat.
You say its only a 2500 stall. But how efficient is it? My 9 inch converter in the race car is 4% efficient in the quarter mile, and I had a 10 inch that was about 10 - 12% efficient. Had an 8 inch that was even worse than that. The less efficient the more heat it will produce on the street.
67 Coronet 500 - 9.610 @ 139.20 mph
Owned Since 1981
Daughter's Car
67 Coronet 500 Street Car with AC
13.300 @ 101.75 mph
69 GTX clone - build in progress........
Posts: 6,671
Threads: 470
Joined: Jan 2013
markz Wrote:Personally I wouldn't run on the street without the largest external cooler I can fit. As mentioned, trannies don't like heat.
You say its only a 2500 stall. But how efficient is it? My 9 inch converter in the race car is 4% efficient in the quarter mile, and I had a 10 inch that was about 10 - 12% efficient. Had an 8 inch that was even worse than that. The less efficient the more
heat it will produce on the street.
X2
The Idaho Andy
I love the smell of race fuel in the morning
Posts: 933
Threads: 151
Joined: Jul 2000
markz Wrote:Personally I wouldn't run on the street without the largest external cooler I can fit. As mentioned, trannies don't like heat.
You say its only a 2500 stall. But how efficient is it? My 9 inch converter in the race car is 4% efficient in the quarter mile, and I had a 10 inch that was about 10 - 12% efficient. Had an 8 inch that was even worse than that. The less efficient the more heat it will produce on the street.
most likely the effiectly isnt too good, its a fairbanks (remember the old GER convertors) I've heard they are better then
that though. I am just thinking about a nice clean way to mount an external cooler, might put it some where towards the back of the car (figure if it routes through the headers it would just pick up that heat)
I was hoping an aluminum after market would suffice, being lazy just ordering the pre bent lines from right stuff and your done
Posts: 3,134
Threads: 208
Joined: Jan 2013
If you do go with an aftermarker transmission cooler Piper, you may want to consider using one of the bullet style aluminum finned coolers like the one that I used on my sons 72 Dart Swinger. Instead of using one of the flat style coolers that are placed in front of the radiator which disrupts the air flow to the radiator, I placed this cooler just under the front bumper in the opening of the lower front valance panel. The air flow to the radiator through the front grille opening is not interrupted at all and this system has worked out extremely well for the Dart even in our extremely hot weather here in Phoenix. I also did not plumb this cooler through the lower radiator tank, so that takes the hot transmission fluid out of the lower radiator tank which helps to keep the radiator fluid cooler as well. It's a win win situation and it's a lot cheaper to do than an aluminum radiator.
Richard
Back in 2005 after installing the cooler during the Dart's restoration.
Some pictures of the car after restoration with the cooler in place. Just my own opinion, but this cooler almost looks like a factory piece, very clean, gets lots of air flow to help dissipate heat and is almost unnoticeable if you're not looking for it.
For some unknown reason, nobody seems to take me seriously............
Posts: 1,250
Threads: 57
Joined: Jan 2013
the 2 aluminum radiators I have, a becool and a summit do not have trans coolers in them and need external coolers. even if they did have coolers in the rad, I would use an external cooler too, especially with a non stock convertor.
Nobody wants a Charlie in the box
Posts: 933
Threads: 151
Joined: Jul 2000