Tranny cooler location?

[69rangerman]

I'll be changing the oil and filter on the tranny next week so it's a good time to install the cooler I've had for months.

I don't see a good, easy way to get this on the front side of the radiator behind the grill. Will it still work better than the rad cooler if it's installed low on the pass side inner fender?
Only open space I have and figure there is lot's of air flow there with the fan fairly close, and it's protected from rocks etc.

Thanks

[71PA_Highboy]

Uhhhh... didn't your other post say you were going to replace your radiator?

Why can't you mount it up front when you have the old rad out?

???????


Eric

[FORDification]

It really should be in front of the radiator, to take advantage of the airflow, something it's not going to see if it's mounted elsewhere, and against a solid object to boot.

Do it right the first time, or you'll be having to re-do it in the future.

[69rangerman]

Good eye Highboy,

Yep I'm planning on replacing and uh...didn't think about having the access with the rad out.

When I was scoping the job out before I was kinda stumped about how to get the lines to the cooler through the gap between the bumper and the fascia. Anybody have a picture or an idea about how to run the lines?

Thanks

[FORDification]

Your tranny cooler lines have no reason to be that far forward....they shouldn't ever extend forward of the radiator support. The radiator is mounted to the back of the support, and the cooler is mounted just in front of the radiator...but still behind the radiator support. Just screw in a 90-degree fitting into the radiator and bend/flare some steel line to either go around the side of the radiator (best) or under it. There's no reason the lines need to go 6" forward to the front bumper and then 6" back. I've got a good shot I took last weekend at the car show of such a setup, I'll post it when I get home tonight.

[69rangerman]

Much appreciated thanks! These kind of jobs always take me 3 times as long as most folks since alot of stuff is still new to me.

Might have to start this one early so I can have it finished by the time my week off is over.

Tom

[FORDification]

Here's the photo I promised. You could do something similiar:

[69rangerman]

Thanks for the photo. Sorry to be thick but am I looking at the bottom of the radiator, or the side? The light hitting the pulley is throwing me off.

It almost looks like the cooler lines are running around the side and through the radiator support.

Tom

[FORDification]

...It almost looks like the cooler lines are running around the side and through the radiator support.

Tom

That's 'cause that's exactly what they're doing. I was simply standing by the left front fender looking in at the left side of the radiator. This is on a car, though...which is probably why it's throwing you off. Truck radiators with the onboard cooler have the outlets along the bottom instead of along the side, like the above pics. However, it was just an illustration of how the lines could be plumbed...you can use your imagination to make them fit for your specific application.

[69bumptruck]

I'm using a motor/tranny from a '77 adn it has the tranny cooler mounted in front of the radiator. The lines run from under the radiator. I'll take a pic of it tomorrow evening when I get home from work for you if you want. It's a stock setup.

[69rangerman]

Thanks 69bumptruck,

Yeah that'd be great.

Keith, thanks for the tips and picture. As far as imagination goes? Well, I'm the kind that has to go out and stare at something for an hour before the light bulb flickers!

[69bumptruck]

Okay, here goes:

[69rangerman]

Great pictures! That's exactly what my feeble brain needs to see.

Bonus: Looks like the "out" line from the tranny is the driver side tube into the radiator - I've been wondering which was supply and which was return.

So the cooler is downstream of the rad cooler so that it can cool the tranny fluid even more before hitting the tranny.

Cool.

Thanks for the effort.

Tom

[460 crew]

What yr radiator support is that 69Bumptruck?
I have been waitting for your pics cuz I have the same cooler and couldn't mount it. Now I'm seeing that your support has an indention for the cooler lines mine is straight all the way with no provision.

I think I'll just spacer out the whole radiator a 1/2in from the support and that will give clearance for the lines.

[FORDification]

Excellent pics! I'm saving those for future reference as well.