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trans cooler

B

big reaper

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I have a friend who is stripping out a k5 that has a new a/c condenser that was never charged with freon or oil. And I was thinking that since my blazer doesn't have a/c that I might be able to use that condenser as a trans cooler.
I was wondering if anyone had tried that or if it would even work.
I'm trying to get my blazer ready to move and know I'm going to need a cooler of some kind since I'll be pulling a 12 ft trailer all the way from California where I live now to Wyoming.
 
IMO, that's too big and yes it is possible to have too much cooler.
 
Physically it would work fine. Its designed for much higher pressure and temps then the transmission would ever develop I'm sure.

And, hauling a heavy load in the summer it would probably not be too big. But, for cooler days and no trailer, it would keep the oil awfully cool. It needs to be fairly warm to keep moisture boiled out and let it keep things clean.


However, too hot is going to be worse than too cold if it gets hot enough to break down the oil or cause it to boil out.
The ideal situation would be some kind of bypass thermostat that lets the oil warm up to some set temp before it lets it go through the cooler.

I've never seen one, but I'm sure one could be built.
If you only have the cooler in the radiator, I would be very temped to put that one on for the trip.
Maybe with a thermometer to keep an eye on the oil temp. Far better to run it a little cold for the trip than to burn up the transmission.
 
I know that its a "Flex a Lite" brand but a stacked plate cooler is better than that style, IMO.
 
If that's not a good cooler to use can anyone suggest a good one. I'm trying to make sure I have the least amount of problems possible. I will have any tool needed to fix any problems that pop up. But the more I can do to prepare the better
 
I recently switched to this one....

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hda-679/overview/

from one like you posted. Because I live in the "South", my tranny is routed through this only, bypassing the radiator portion of the trans cooler. When I was using the other type of cooler, my tranny temps would creep towards the 200* mark when towing.....yikes!

With this cooler, I haven't gone over 170*. Im sure others will chime in with their ideas as well.

Also, I was able to pick this cooler up at the local Oreilley's for a bit cheaper too, which is why I am using it...didn't have to wait on shipment.
 
I've used A/C condensors in the past and have had no problem doing so.
I would mount ANY trans cooler the way GM does it, from trans to radiator, then to cooler, then to trans....this allows the oil to get warmed up to engine operating temps, reducing any condensation in the oil, then the cooler can cool it down for return to the trans.

I've used these on the Maiden with great success:

106LM7B_L_168500eb.jpg


available through Speedway motors, made by Long radiator as Tru-cool brand amongst others.
 
Thank you k30. I can't seem to search with my tab and since I'm packing my house to move I've already packed my desktop.
That thread gives me a lot of information. I figured there would be something like that around but didn't see one in the tech section so I gave up.
 
I have one of the cheap flex a lite or whatever coolers. Actually I think it is the Jegs brand. Anyway, for the most part it works well, but I towed a car from California to Missouri, and I had to stop a couple times going up passes Colorado to let the tranny cool down. I don't know how much weight you're expecting on that trailer, but seeing as you'll be passing through similar terrain I wouldn't go with the lowest cost option. I'd go with one of the B&M ones already linked, and if you're on the fence about whether it will be big enough, get the next size up.
 
If you never pull or are in any weather that is cold. You dont need to run it through the radiator. All the radiator does is heat up the tranny fluid to the engine operating temp quicker, so it only functions in the winter. I dont even run one around here, I just run a Haynes RV cooler on mine, and warm the tranny up if its cold by driving it around a bit before I hammer down.
 
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