Tranny cooler w/thermostat control..... (Finished)+update

[Bing]

I have been looking into this kind of setup for my Bonneville. This set up would eliminate the radiator tranny cooler.
What do you guys think?
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+ ... tabpanel-2
http://www.jegs.com/i/Derale/259/13011/ ... tabpanel-2
I'm open to other manufacturers, but Jegs has always treated me right.

[willwren]

That stacked plate cooler is already thermostatically controlled through fluid viscosity. The Thermostat isn't needed. Buy the cooler (good price) and forget the shiny gizmo.

[Bing]

I wasn't aware of that, thanks for saving me some money.
Is that about the right size cooler for a 99?

[sandrock]

That's the size I'm running. I also made my own mounts from angle aluminum for a neater look.

[00Beast]

I got that same one, but in 24000 GVW sitting on my shelf waiting for installation. I was going to install it one day, but my car has a weird size on the cooler lines, and the fittings were rounding off. I will start my own thread on that.

[Bing]

A little up date with this one. Ended up buying the 24,000 GVW from Jegs for 50$ and just got it today.
I picked up a couple of 3/8" barbed hose splices and 5' more tranny cooler hose from Napa. I'm going to splice into the factory line right at the hose (hence the barbed splices). I have both lines waiting (brand new) for this upgrade. I'll post some pics on my set up when I do it.

[douellette88]

would the B&M trans cooler i have sitting on a shelf in my garage also be thermo controlled? or is it just specifically this jegs one?

[Bing]

That stacked plate cooler is already thermostatically controlled through fluid viscosity. The Thermostat isn't needed. Buy the cooler (good price) and forget the shiny gizmo.

As long as the B&M cooler is a stacked plate type you should be good to go. There is nothing special about the Jegs one, just a good price.

[00Beast]

We'd need a link or a pic, douellette. If it's round tubes snaking through a set of fins, no. If it's flat tubes and fins, like a radiator, then probably.

[douellette88]

alright ill go check it out when i get a chance

[douellette88]

it is the B&M 70268 and in the description it says stacked plate design so

[Bing]

Wanted to update the tranny cooler. I was able to get it installed today. Even with replacing the tranny cooler lines and building the support for the cooler it didn't go that bad.

Ended up buying some 3/4" wide aluminum angle for the vertical supports. Heres some pics of the finished install.







Not completely happy with how the spliced connection turned out. Might just end up cutting off the factory crimp ends and slightly flaring them for hose connections. I'm going to keep an eye on that spliced connection. I know that it won't come apart, but I think I can do it better. We'll just have to see.

[douellette88]

that looks amazing!

[01bonneSC]

Factory looking with those brackets!!

[Bing]

Thanks guys for the input.

Next up on the list is the cooling fan high speed over ride switch. This will really help me keep the tranny temps right where I want them if I get stuck in traffic.

[00Beast]

Looks good bud. Have you had your PCM tuned for a 180* T-stat yet?

[Bing]

No not yet, it is on the list to do sometime though. Trying to do the ones that I can do for cheap before stepping up to more costly ones. There is somewhat of an order to my madness. I'll do a post on my planned mods, so you have an idea of what I'm thinking.

[yonkerse]

The install sure turned out nice and it looks great. I will be doing this same install in about 2 weeks. Sure hope mine turns out as nice as yours did! How much fluid did you need to add to the trans? Also, how much cooler is your trans running with the cooler installed??

[Bing]

Thanks yonkerse, preplanning and not rushing through a project helps a lot.

As far as the fluid amount goes my suggestion would be to start with an empty container (oil drain pan). Then take an empty oil quart container and dump what fluid you have into the quart container for your amount needed for a start then add accordingly for the added capacity in the cooler.

Tranny temp I'm not sure about yet.
I get picked up for work everyday so I haven't driven the car very far yet.
It did have about a 40 degree difference when the car was just idling. It will sit with a water temp of 176 degrees, and the tranny temp would be right up there too before the cooler install.

I'm in the process of getting shift kit parts together. So it's just waiting patiently to be driven again. Plus while it sits I'm going to do the A/C delete pulley.

[Jrs3800]

Bing... I added a Large 28,000 GVWR Cooler years back... I think its been almost 10 years... I changed the trans fluid roughly 4 years ago... Its still red...No brown tint or tinge at all.. It still had Coastal Dex III in it.. Just About 190,000 Miles on that trans too..

I'd say with the shift kit and the cooler you should get a lot more out of that trans..

I don't care what GM or any of the GM performance guys say... I have heard a lot of " you don't need a cooler on a 65E "..... 200F is cooking.... 230F and your on your way to failure... 260F and your in limp home, if you don't fry the trans...

160F is optimum fluid temp... 180F is a little warm but the trans should last a long time... Anything above 200F will shorten the trans life..