Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

Need to put a new one on the stocker and rather than running braided lines forward I was looking at the heat sink style that can mount along the frame rail and close to the trans. Anyone offer their experience on running this style vs more traditional means? Whatever I install needs to be absolutely leak proof as possible, don't want to run the risk of a ridiculous fine from NHRA for depositing transmission fluid on the track.

Thanks

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

Jim,

Don't know what kind of trans you have but most just run a loop& a deep pan ... ( GM's ) Also, change the fluid every 60-80 runs and you will have no-problems... Yes, trannys like to be run Hot , same as engine Oil ?.......... I thought you had a duster ? Maybe some one else can chime in .............Good Luck,

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

My Rosslers uses no cooler. Plugs where the fittings go. Carl must do something internally to do that. Never a problem. Easier to get it up to temp when you unload. I would just loop the line.

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

Running a 904, may just loop it and put a guage in to make sure. And yes, frequent changing of the fluid is understood.

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

We run th 350 and m200 both with no cooler,temp. never over 200. I would loop the line, not plug internally in case you ever want to sell the trans, been there. gsa612

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

I had my AODE looped last year. This year I went to a C4 and added a heat sink cooler. Hot lapped it hard at our New Years bracket race, no issues and no leaks.

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

I've always run an auxilary cooler and just recently bypassed the radiator to help control engine temps. I've considered a heat-sink or something under the floor so I don't have to snake the lines all the way up front, but haven't gotten around to it.

But since high temps cause the most problems with automatic transmissions, I've been using Amsoil Supershift synthetic fluid. Synthetics are more resistant to heat and breakdown so you have an extra margin of safety. JW builds my Stocker 904's with nothing too fancy, just good parts. I've run them for several seasons with 1-2 changes a year and was told to keep doing whatever I'm doing whenever I bring one in to be freshened because they wear very well!

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

If you have a cooler in the radiator tank use that it provides the best cooling and alone should show stable coolant temperatures. If you don't have a in-tank cooler make yourself a loop, that will work fine. I have not seen any data out there that shows how well a heat sink performs and what the benefits are.

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

We run a 904 with an inline tranny cooler that mounts on the top of tranny brace. The turns and multiple fittings to bend around all of the corners did leave us with the need to check periodically, or put up with small leaks.

We check regularly, and ocassionally need to tighten one or two fittings.

But honestly, I am not sure you wouldn't have the same issues running lines to the front. The tranny takes a lot of hard abuse on your typical launch so any fitting is bound to loosen in time, and you really need to "nut and bolt" the entire car after every few runs, or you risk problems. So the checking for leaks is not that big a deal.

David
The New Hemi Guy

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

We just loop all our stockers.......Bracket cars that hot lap have coolers. Mark is right: Change fluid ever 20 runs........Just cheap Type F on Protrans. Let me know when you are ready to race one of our stockers....3 Races in a row in Vegas Mar/April!!

John

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

Don't plug the line feeds on a torqueflite as the rear shaft support gets it's lubrication from there.

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

Hi Jim, Your best bet for a drip free trans is to loop it. Kelly made 15 runs last Friday at the track rental and the hottest the trans got was 180. A stocker is never going to be in a position to take that kind of abuse.

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

Jim,
As you know I have a Pro Trans 904 also. They will tell you all you need is a loop. Mine came with a copper line loop. No problems. I change the fluid every 30 runs and have a reusable/cleanable filter. Fluid levels are very important in these trannys! Jim

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

Thanks guys....I'm looping and changing frequently. And yes Jim, after Reynolds last year I keep a real close eye on the level!

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

Roger that! Jim:rolleyes:

.

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

Real world story;
I was at Atlanta Dragway on a hot humid night years ago, running a friend's SBC, PG Camaro. He had a trans temp guage and no cooler, and it was staying around 200 * . I was going rounds , with not much time in between. In the semi's I couldn't run the dial and lost. The car didn't spin, so I looked at the gauges, and the trans was at 240.

I always put a cooler up front on my Stockers. You spend so g.d. much money on them anyway, why not?

Bottom line: I'd listen to Myron or anyone else here who goes many late rounds in hot, humid weather.

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

If you go rounds with a looped trans then you need to start putting a blower under the car as soon as possible...you'd be amazed how much heat that pulls out of a trans. I did that cooler or not "back in the day" when I was bracket racing quite a bit.

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

hey guys I'm a newbi at this What do you mean by a loop and heat sink?

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

Line in & line out are the same line...loop

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

The Ford C-6 also relies on the cooler return line to lube the output saft . (although hardly anyone uses a C-6 anymore in Stock)
Not sure about the C-4.
Looping is best.

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

looping just means a length of hose "looped" between the two fittings. Some transmissions require fluid flow in and out those ports to complete the lubrication circuit.

Here is an example of a "heat sink" style cooler http://www.moroso.com/catalog/catego...?catcode=24301

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

Just make sure you have a good high quality hose, or plumb in a piece of tubing. The temperature of oil coming out of the torque converter can exceed 400 deg. F. Rubber hose won't cut it.!

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

I have ran my torqueflites without a cooler for years in bracket cars as well as stockers, using braided line and AN fittings to loop the front and rear line to complete the oil circuit as everyone has already stated. A cooler wont do you much good unless the engine is running so unless you can stabilize the temerature on the return road its useless. In a stocker its not much of an issue, the fan underneath the car in latter rounds is enough.

Mark.
Automatic Performance Transmission

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

If you ask ten racers a question, you may get ten different opinions. Here's my .02 worth.
Having literally grew-up in a family run transmission shop, I used to run my cooling lines "looped" for years, but noticed the trans getting pretty hot when hot lapping during late rounds. And once it gets hot, there's no time to cool it off when you're being called back to the lanes. Over the past 10 years I've used a pair of parallel mounted heat sink coolers under the car and have found that it works exceptional. I've got a 180° fitting on one end to join the two coolers and a temperature manifold on the inlet port for the temp gauge. Best thing yet, it weighs only a pound or two.

Re: Automatic Transmission Cooling
 

First trans that Macy did for me I put about 700 runs on it with conventional fluid, and the only reason it came out of the car was breaking the rear end. :rolleyes: One set of clutches showed a little wear (high gear? can't remember), but overall the thing looked quite good. I understand changing fluid frequently in a ProTrans or other aluminum type trans, but on a standard 904....? Always ran a cooler, and it was tough to get it about 145 degrees unless hot-lapping. Had to be double-entered and running 8min between rounds to get it 180+.

This year, with the new Abruzzi trans and looser converter, plus the full carbon fiber trans shield on it, it's generating and maintaining a lot more heat. Not so sure I want to be double-entering the thing anymore, even with the cooler. Have to check to see what the time frame was, but single-entered wasn't too bad... about 190deg after the final round at Farmington the other week. Seemed to air-cool down to about 160 between rounds.