Trans cooler....

[5.7 hemi]

I have a trans cooler from an 03 Ram and putting it on my 64 Polara 500 with a 5.7 hemi and auto trans (listed for those who dont know what I got) and I have questions.

1. Since this is a factory cooler does it matter if the lines going into it are top?
2. Is there an in and out or does it matter?
3. If there is an in/out, is there a heat check valve? Probably not on the valve, but I thought I would ask anyway.

Any help with this would be appreciated.

 

[HT413]

Many of them dont matter which they they flow. Unless someone here knows about this specific cooler, best bet might be to rig a garden hose up to check flow both ways. I guess it's a heat sink type cooler and not a radiator type cooler?

 

[RustyRatRod]

Yes. It matters. I am not familiar with that specific cooler to know whether it has a valve, BUT....the cooler should be positioned so that the inlet and outlets are on the SIDE. The outlet line of the transmission should attach to the fitting closest to the bottom of the cooler. This will fill the cooler from the bottom which will result in better cooling of the fluid. Less trapped air since the fluid is working against gravity.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Trans cooler

Here's the pics of the cooler....

The first pic is how it was mounted on the factory Ram radiator.
The 2nd pic is how I want to mount it, this will cause less headaches and fit alot better.
The last pic shows how I want to mount it. The hose routing to the cooler is no biggie to do and I blew 20lbs of air thru it. I did it the way the factory has it mounted and also how I want to mount it and there was no difference in the air coming out of the tubes. So I dont think there is a valve in there and should be good to mount the way I want. Opinions please!!

 

[RustyRatRod]

I cannot tell in the pic, but if it will FILL from the bottom through one of those lines, then it will be ok. Should be easy to determine.

 

[HT413]

If you mount it upside down you'll have to remove it to change your fluid. Maybe install a drain valve on what is now the bottom? Also, looks like it will cover much of your radiator... any concern that it will cause cooling issues with hot fluid flowing through it?

 

[RustyRatRod]

If you mount it upside down you'll have to remove it to change your fluid. Maybe install a drain valve on what is now the bottom? Also, looks like it will cover much of your radiator... any concern that it will cause cooling issues with hot fluid flowing through it?

Why? It's not like the cooler drains when you drop the pan anyway. The only reason he couldn't mount it upside down would be if it does not fill from the bottom. Other than that, I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[HT413]

i hear ya, i just always pulled the lines on the cooler when changing the fluid on my truck to get as much as I could out of there (mine has a bleeder valve on top). maybe there's another way I'm not thinking of or perhaps it's not necessary, i'm just sayin he won't have that option is all.

 

[RustyRatRod]

i hear ya, i just always pulled the lines on the cooler when changing the fluid on my truck to get as much as I could out of there (mine has a bleeder valve on top). maybe there's another way I'm not thinking of or perhaps it's not necessary, i'm just sayin he won't have that option is all.

Yeah dang sure ain't nothing wrong with all that. We always drain converters here at the shop where applicable. CUstomers sometimes wonder why the trans service is a little higher than elsewhere but when we tell them what the deal is, they're ok with it. It ain't a terrible idea to even flush the cooler out on a trans service too. But you're right, best case scenario would be to mount it with the lines down, at least the way that one is designed.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Since there is no check valve in the cooler I'll be alright. Now filling it, I have an idea on how to get the fluid in. Coonect the return line from the cooler to the line going back to the trans, line from the radiator to the cooler isn;t connected, fill the cooler with fluid and then connect the line. This should get it close and will check trans fluid level when done and top off accordingly.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I wouldn't go to all that trouble. Just fill it up, pop it off check the fluid and keep addin till it's full. It'll be fine.