Transmission Coolers

[GRIGGS]

Just wondering if any of you had suggestions about the best transmission cooler. Just had one come apart today about 100 feet past the finish line. Got the car safely stopped, but geeessss, what a mess on the track and car. We had a steel braided line and the cooler was one of the ones that had the fins on it with tubes weaving back and forth. Any tips greatly appreciated.

Mike and Ernie Griggs

[RandyG]

Originally Posted by GRIGGS

Just had one come apart today about 100 feet past the finish line. Got the car safely stopped, but geeessss, what a mess on the track and car. We had a steel braided line and the cooler was one of the ones that had the fins on it with tubes weaving back and forth.Mike and Ernie Griggs

Hi there, I have been looking into some coolers myself. I am curious where did yours rupture? Wjat one was it (was it the Kool Kan you are describing?). I saw Meizer with an interesting transmission pan that I have been considering as it has a water jacket and ties into the cooling system.

[63corvette]

Key point to cooler failure is how it is mounted in many cases.
ALWAYS RUBBER MOUNT THE TRANNY COOLER
If it is not rubber mounted it will fail at some point.
Experience talking here. They grow with the heat and contract when cool and that is what causes the failures in most cases if they are not rubber mounted.
I like the B&M coolers and use them.
My 2 Cents

[GRIGGS]

It was rubber mounted. It failed where the 180 degree loop is (was).

[Tom Goldman]

The B&M 10,000# cooler is an extremly durable cooler., Much stronger than many of the others out there. ....It's the only one I use on my customers cars that use coolers. ......I'd also check your line pressure ,just to make sure nothing got into the regulator and stuck it......Altho rare, I've had one that stuck,and had pressure over 300#. .......Tom

[C and W Racing]

Mike, the cooler that I found to work the best is the Shogun cooler. I used to have issues with getting the trans to cool down in my Ranger and Thunder bird when I would hot lap the cars, ( back when I used to go rounds) they are built so much better than a regular cooler and they hold five more quarts of fluid which helps in the cool down. You won't have a problem with one of them breaking and leaking fluid, ( unless you hit a wall or something)
I have tried many different ones over the years, and that is all I run now. They are pricey, but a lot cheaper that what could have happened when your's started leaking
Chuck

[Philip Saran]

Is there a "life expectancy" for a trans cooler. The one on my
bracket car has been on the car since the early 1980's.
I've only had the car about 1-1/2 years and still don't have it finished yet.
The car had sat for many years before I bought it.

Am I temping fate if I don't install a new one??

[Tom Goldman]

Originally Posted by Philip Saran

Is there a "life expectancy" for a trans cooler. The one on my
bracket car has been on the car since the early 1980's.
I've only had the car about 1-1/2 years and still don't have it finished yet.
The car had sat for many years before I bought it.

Am I temping fate if I don't install a new one??

I'd be cautious about any cooler that is set up to be removable, especially if it does not have the hose fitting area supported. ......The type with free standing ends are subjected to a lot of vibration,and flexing when taken in and out of the car.......Even a good cooler is cheaper than a wrecked car,even more important is using quality cooler lines. ....If the car is that old ,at the very least I'd replace the lines and fittings,as they are far more likely to deteriorate than the cooler........If the cooler has a slip on type hose and uses clamps, get rid of it in favor of a quality cooler with threaded fittings. .......Tom

[Bryan Gillespie]

B&M with the fan on it