TRANNY COOLER

[Trail X]

I understand the concern for sure. That was actually the main reason for the aluminum spacer blocks/mounts, otherwise it would have been sitting right on the frame.

[bgwolfpack]

The closest it gets is like a 3/4" gap. Should be plenty of space, considering the biggest restriction on the fan will be the fins itself.

What about dirt, mud and grime? I understand why you want it right there but won't it be ill-effected by tire debris?

[Trail X]

I honestly don't think it will be any worse off there than in the grill. Do you?

[bartonmd]

I honestly don't think it will be any worse off there than in the grill. Do you?

It will absolutely be worse there, with mud and stuff...It'll get plugged up, cake your fan in mud, and burn it out after the first time you're in that wet, sticky clay mud, and turn your wheel to the left...

I would rather put it up above your radiator skid, if there's room anywhere there, or inside your bumper... Both would be worlds better than the wheel well...

Mike

[bgwolfpack]

How loud is the fan? Would it be possible to mount this (really cool unit) inboard, like under the rear seat or the platform you built? Does it have to be outside the truck? The air temp can be controlled inside the cabin for better cooling over all.

[bartonmd]

How loud is the fan? Would it be possible to mount this (really cool unit) inboard, like under the rear seat or the platform you built? Does it have to be outside the truck? The air temp can be controlled inside the cabin for better cooling over all.

The A/C would have a hard time keeping up with the amount of heat one of these can put off...

Mike

[Trail X]

I honestly don't think it will be any worse off there than in the grill. Do you?

It will absolutely be worse there, with mud and stuff...It'll get plugged up, cake your fan in mud, and burn it out after the first time you're in that wet, sticky clay mud, and turn your wheel to the left...

I would rather put it up above your radiator skid, if there's room anywhere there, or inside your bumper... Both would be worlds better than the wheel well...

Mike

I was initially worried about that, but I looked around at pictures of trailblazers that had gone through mud, and I never really saw much mud in that area of the wheel well.

It's on a manual switch, and the only times I'm expecting to need it are really on the highway or a long climb off road. So if it gets caked up off road, I'll spray it off... then good to go! I'll always have the in-radiator cooler to do most of the work. I'm not worried.

[bartonmd]

Mud doesn't cake there much, because there's nothing shaped like a fan or something with fins to cake on, and because the stock plastic sort of overhangs the frame right there... It doesn't completely overhang the cooler fan, and the cooler sticks out a couple inches... I'm just saying, it wouldn't be my first choice...

What's wrong with in front of the radiator?

Mike

[Trail X]

The reason I'm adding the cooler is to bring down trans AND radiator temps. In front of the radiator I already have enough obstruction with my bumper and big ol' lights. I don't want to add more obstruction, especially if it's also going to add more heat into the radiator too.

[navigator]

hey, if you get a little mud on it you can use the OBW to wash it off .
It's mounted now and isn't going to hurt anything unless you get a rupture of some kind. Let us know how it works.

[bartonmd]

The reason I'm adding the cooler is to bring down trans AND radiator temps. In front of the radiator I already have enough obstruction with my bumper and big ol' lights. I don't want to add more obstruction, especially if it's also going to add more heat into the radiator too.

Oh, that's right... The big lights...

There's nowhere inside a frame rail?

hey, if you get a little mud on it you can use the OBW to wash it off .

I was actually just thinking that...

Mike

[Trail X]

Oh, that's right... The big lights...

There's nowhere inside a frame rail?

I didn't see anything that was big enough to fit a 12x8 cooler. I was looking around underneith, but didn't see anything that looked especially attractive. A good bit of this truck feels pretty shoehorned in.

[bgwolfpack]

How about the area of the frame gusset just ahead of the fuel filter? Looks like it may fit there.

[Trail X]

Maybe a body lifted vehicle. I found no spots under the doors where the cooler would fit without hanging below the frame. Although I did not try that particular position.

Take regular printer paper, pretend it's 4.5" thick and has tubes coming out of it and see. I'm not changing mine though, unless I find it has problems where it is.

[fishsticks]

I've pressure washed off an inch thick layer of mud from the sheet metal area just above where you mounted that cooler.

Just FYI.

[Trail X]

Finished the trans cooler install:

Used compression fittings and 90 degree bends. Barbs are 1/2" to match the trans cooler inputs. Also shown is the tube cutter.


Making the first cut.


The fittings in place, ready for install.


Installed, no drips yet. There was a handy hole through the subframe that I used to route the rubber tubing. I still plan to sleeve the tubing where they may rub.


Plumbed up. With the fan on, it kicks out a lot of air... and hot air at that. I'm eager to seeing how it affects temps.

[Karo]

Thanks James, still have to do so many things to my TB!
I need more time, could you please tell this to my wife and the kids?

P.S: Clean install, very good job!
Karsten