engine and drivetrain Radiator advice Sought before I order an Ingraham special...

[winstontj]

Looking to order another radiator from Curt and I'm thinking about getting an auto trans radiator and using it for a manual trans cooler. Initially I thought it would be best to keep these items seperate but then I thought that if they did it for auto trans cars then it may be OK for manual transmission as well. Will it matter? Or is there a difference in operating temp between manual and auto transmissions and fluids?

[Napes]

How would you plumb the manual tranny for the recirculation hoses and what would you use to pump the fluid forward to the radiator? Might want to think this through before going that route.

Bob Napier

' 76 2002A

' 75 2002A

' 74 2002

[winstontj]

To be honest I'm not sure how. I know that I couldn't run it off the driveshaft. Do you know how it's done? I was trying to get at two things. First, temperature differences, operating temperature differences, etc. Does the transmission operate at the same temperature of the coolant? If there is an operating temperature difference and a shared heat sync is used (auto radiator) they will seek to the middle and one will always want to be hot and one will always want to be cold. Would this actually overheat a transmission? Secondly I have no clue how transmission coolers are run. I haven't gotten that far yet but you've got to plumb from the trans. up to the grille so does it matter how long or where the plumbing runs to? Longer tubes = more fluid but that's about it right?

Anyone know how trans coolers are pumped? electric pump? Belt driven?

[TJs692002]

Im no expert here but.....

Automatic trans fluid is moved via the valve body or fluid pump that moves the juice through the unit and making the car go forward. That same pump is what pushed the fluid through the cooler and back to the transmission. Typically the feed and return lines are attached to the pan of the automatic where all the fluid lives (this is something manuals do not have) I think if you can find a way to have the fluid leave the manual trans, get pumped through a cooler, and then return back to the transmission again you have the hard part solved.

I have never seen a manual transmission with a trans cooler installed also. I also stated that I am no expert and do not claim to know everything!

Good luck with your project.

[winstontj]

I think that running an electric pump would be the easiest simply because there's no manual way to do it. It would be a nightmare to weld up and balance a pulley on the driveshaft and it would have to have such an underdrive that the pump pulley would have to be the size of a flywheel. Electric is probably the only way to go. My concern is still with temperature differences between the coolant and the trans. I'm afraid that I would overheat something, probably the transmission but I just don't know.

[winstontj]

I think that running an electric pump would be the easiest simply because there's no manual way to do it. It would be a nightmare to weld up and balance a pulley on the driveshaft and it would have to have such an underdrive that the pump pulley would have to be the size of a flywheel. Electric is probably the only way to go. My concern is still with temperature differences between the coolant and the trans. I'm afraid that I would overheat something, probably the transmission but I just don't know.

[Guest Anonymous]

I have used a v6 pinto raditor, 320, and a custom cored 2002. All worked well . A manuel tranny cooler is nicht notig ( not needed) never seen one on a race car , on an auto tranny yes .

[TJW]

Gearbox and or diff oil coolers are not difficult to fit, But on what research are you basing your need to fit one.

[winstontj]

All the E30 & newer race cars have them. I'm going to fit a diff cooler and I just assumed that a trans cooler may be overkill but it never hurts to be overkill. If NO BODY uses them - anywhere - then I'll drop it because it's a bunch of money that could be used elsewhere. Just wondering. Too bad because the auto trans is a great way to cool something but it's too far to run the diff plumbing & won't work for oil so I guess it's just scrap the trans cooler and order another stock radiator from Curt.

[TJW]

I have a temp gauge in our diff oil/gearbox oil and engine oil.

Running a full race with ambient temp over 90's track surface over 150's engine running at 8000rpm and pushing way over 200hp and over 200 lbs torque (willnot/cannot tell the actual figure)

1, engine oil may reach 220f Castrol RS

2, gearbox never reached 220f Castrol RS

3, diff 230f Redline LS

Under the above temps there is no need for a cooler

[robspeed]

All the E30 & newer race cars have them. I'm going to fit a diff cooler and I just assumed that a trans cooler may be overkill but it never hurts to be overkill. If NO BODY uses them - anywhere - then I'll drop it because it's a bunch of money that could be used elsewhere. Just wondering. Too bad because the auto trans is a great way to cool something but it's too far to run the diff plumbing & won't work for oil so I guess it's just scrap the trans cooler and order another stock radiator from Curt.

why not use it as an ENGINE oil cooler??!!

[winstontj]

I've thought about using it as an engine oil cooler but I thought that was a no-no. I'm also worried that there will be a big difference in temperatures between the oil and coolant which will always be heating/cooling one or the other. Also don't I need more flow for an oil cooler? I thought guys run fat plumbing and big (6"x12") coolers?

Can that radiator portion be used as an oil cooler??