Cooler install

[JMH1950]

Today is the day for installing my new garage sale special B&M supercooler, was a little concerned because I haven't done this before. However it is now all installed. A lot easier than it looked like it was going to be. Total time was less than an hour. Would have been quicker if I didn't paint the brackets and wait for them to dry.

I didn't bypass the radiator cooler as was suggested, yet. I have to find another barbed fitting and a couple of plugs first. I made sure there was enough hose so I could do it whenever.

Christine with her new plates on. Old ones were 16 years old and looked like it.



Headlight and bracket out.



Test fit.



Just about done.



All hooked up and ready for a test drive.




After a test drive, I topped up the fluid, checked for leaks and started doing a little engine bay cleaning.

[willwren]

When you buypass, don't plug. Just leave it open. Looks good, John. Real similar to my install on the Zilla.

[JMH1950]

After another drive I hand tested the inlet and outlet hose for temperature.

Inlet was too hot to hold onto but the outlet I could hang onto without any trouble. This should extend the life of that transmission considerably.

[LeSabreUltra]

Nice install. You've got me wondering if maybe I should put one in the 'Sabre.
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[LeSabre in Buffalo]

So the line you disconnected to run to the cooler is the top (return?) line on the radiator? And is the line from the top of the radiator going to the top or bottom of the cooler?

[JMH1950]

The line from the rad is going to the bottom of the cooler, and the line from the top of the cooler goes to the original return line.

Hot oil in the bottom and cooler oil out the top.

Found a leak when I got to Oregon, lines weren't as tight as they were when I left home. Hopefully it's fixed now.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Great, thanks! I just ordered a SuperCooler, should be installed sometime soon.

[irish91983]

Is the supercooler universal and where can i get one from?

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Yes, it's universal. I got the 70268, rated at 13,000 BTU. Bought it from Amazon for $50. There's a 14,000 BTU cooler as well for $10 more. Free shipping if you don't need it immediately.

Link to the B&M SuperCooler 70268: http://www.amazon.com/70268-SuperCooler ... 819&sr=1-1

[LeSabreUltra]

Nice deal. I'm going to have to remember that when I get one for my truck.
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[LeSabre in Buffalo]

It feels very sturdy. Thicker aluminum than a radiator, and lots of spaces for ATF to flow through. I just need to get around to installing it. Won't be for a while due to work.

[irish91983]

Thanks for the link.. gonna get it next week and put it in asap cause my old one is beat.

[JMH1950]

I finally got a chance to connect my scanner to check the ATF temps. On the run back from Woodburn yesterday I was maintaining 178 F. Last time I checked, before cooler instal it was up around 295 F.

I'm going to try and find a fitting today for the bottom hose and bypass the rad cooler altogether and see what difference that makes.

[LeSabreUltra]

I finally got a chance to connect my scanner to check the ATF temps. On the run back from Woodburn yesterday I was maintaining 178 F. Last time I checked, before cooler instal it was up around 295 F.

I'm going to try and find a fitting today for the bottom hose and bypass the rad cooler altogether and see what difference that makes.

I'm just checking to make sure that wasn't a typo...295?!

Wow...that's just plain scary.

178 is good though. I'll definitely keep this cooler in mind.

Keep us posted on the bypass. Is it viscosity controlled? I'm debating when I get this on the truck whether or not to bypass the radiator, I don't want my temps TOO cold.
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[LeSabre in Buffalo]

JMH, what model B&M is that? The 70268 I have looks a lot smaller than the one you posted pictures of. Maybe it's just the angle.

I don't want people to go thinking it's the one I posted, then get it and go "WTF?!? This was a lot bigger in the picture!!".

Ultra, the -268 is indeed viscosity-controlled. So you could indeed completely bypass the stock "cooler". I just don't know if it's big enough to stand alone. It'll for sure knock the temperature down. And I darn near burned my hand on the dipstick checking the ATF level tonight. Plus, when I get my ScanGauge one of the first things it's monitoring is transmission temperature.

[JMH1950]

I'm just checking to make sure that wasn't a typo...295?!

Wow...that's just plain scary.

Sorry that was a typo. Should have read 195-225

JMH, what model B&M is that? The 70268 I have looks a lot smaller than the one you posted pictures of. Maybe it's just the angle.

I think that's the one, I'll check and make sure when I get home from Oregon on Tuesday.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Thanks for checking!

[JMH1950]

I'm just checking to make sure that wasn't a typo...295?!

Wow...that's just plain scary.

Sorry that was a typo. Should have read 195-225

JMH, what model B&M is that? The 70268 I have looks a lot smaller than the one you posted pictures of. Maybe it's just the angle.

I think that's the one, I'll check and make sure when I get home from Oregon on Tuesday.

Yes, 70268 is the one I installed.

On the trip home, after adding 2 quarts of ATF to make up what was lost when the lines came loose, the temp never exceeded 175 F all the way home.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Awesome!

Now if I could find the time to install it...

[DOTBN12]

Absolutely gorgeous! I knew there was something that needed to be done to my Grand Am!
Maybe I missed it, but approximately how long did it take to install..