Installing trans cooler

1

1961

Member
I have a "61" Galaxie with a 292 and I've installed a fresh FordoMatic. Must I use hard trans cooler lines (originals are bent-junk) and also has anyone gone with just an aftermarket cooler? Would a stand alone cooler do the job? If this has worked for anybody else I'd like to hear about it. Thank you for your time.
 
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Transmissions like to be dry inside, moisture collects as part of the normal start/run/drive/stop/turn off process. To keep them dry indide you need heat, that is why the transmission coolers are in the radiator. The external cooler should be on the output line, then into the radiator then back to the transmission. Every factory equiped external transmission cooler vehicle I have had over the years was plumbed up this way. Spend the time to plumb that bad boy up and it will live a long and happy life!
 
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Ive used aftermarket coolers mounted underneath next to the frame rails on two cars, a 56 Bird with a C4 and a 48 Ford with a C4. I have put a lot of miles on both cars and haven't any problems with either trans.
 
Ford blue blood said:
Transmissions like to be dry inside, moisture collects as part of the normal start/run/drive/stop/turn off process. To keep them dry indide you need heat, that is why the transmission coolers are in the radiator. The external cooler should be on the output line, then into the radiator then back to the transmission. Every factory equiped external transmission cooler vehicle I have had over the years was plumbed up this way. Spend the time to plumb that bad boy up and it will live a long and happy life!
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****** coolers are made to cool the ******, not to heat it up :confused:

Here is a link below, from a ****** repair guy......

http://transmissionrepairguy.com/transmission-cooler/









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I agree with everything above. Part of it depends on driving conditions. A car driven short distances in cold weather will benefit from a radiator cooler. It brings the trans to temperature sooner on a short drive, then provides cooling when the oil gets hot. On a summer car, probably not needed.

The other thing to watch is the cooler capacity. Many of the smaller ones are made as an auxiliary to the radiator cooler. They will not make it on a hot, hard pull, by themselves. If mounted in front of the radiator, there might not be enough airflow when stopped without a small fan.

On a car, you'd get away with a lot. I learned my lessons on motorhomes, in the mountains, with temp guages on both the trans and engine oil. Amazing how heat transfer from the oil (s) affects the water temp on long pull on a hot day.
 
The first few years that Ford put FOMs in pickups,they used a stand-alone cooler,not a radiator cooler.
 
Paul H said:
The first few years that Ford put FOMs in pickups,they used a stand-alone cooler,not a radiator cooler.
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The stand alone coolers in the pickups were 'cooled' by water from the radiator.

The first Ford-o's in cars were Air cooled.

Back to the OP's question I have a external cooler on '55 Ranchwagon running a 318" Y-Block and C-4. It's located under the car, behind the front bumper. If I remember correctly it's 30" long

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Just a wealth of information from everybody. It has headed me in the exact direction I needed to go with my project. Thanks to everyone that offered up their input. You guys are a great well rounded group. And I don't mean your waistlines. Thanks Again, 1961.
 
Y-Blockhead, are you also running that cooler along with the radiator cooler or stand alone ? just curious. I ran an external only cooler on my brand X (chev.) 3/4 ton 4x4 for 27 years as a daily driver. trans had 250 k miles on it and still working great when I sold it. the key is maintenance. change your trans oil and filter, it needs it just as much if not more ( not as often ) than your Eng.
 
Alaska Jim said:
Y-Blockhead, are you also running that cooler along with the radiator cooler or stand alone ? just curious. I ran an external only cooler on my brand X (chev.) 3/4 ton 4x4 for 27 years as a daily driver. trans had 250 k miles on it and still working great when I sold it. the key is maintenance. change your trans oil and filter, it needs it just as much if not more ( not as often ) than your Eng.
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Jim, I'm just running the external cooler. Take note that the cooler I am using is a dual pass. Some coolers similar to mine are single pass. My radiator does not have the cooling lines, it's a '55 that had the air cooled Ford-o originally.

Agreed on the maintenance...
 
Y-Blockhead thanks, I was just curious. I have a cooler similar to yours on my '30 coupe, although it is not as big. was on the car when I bought it. I have wondered if it was large enough, as there are no provisions for a cooler in the radiator. I may have to replace it with a larger one, not sure yet. I will probably install a temp gauge to monitor it for a while first. the car is fairly light , no fenders, hood etc. chopped and channeled and not doing burnouts, no power braking . trans is C-4
 
Paul H said:
The first few years that Ford put FOMs in pickups,they used a stand-alone cooler,not a radiator cooler.
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When you say the first few years, do you mean starting in 1951 ?
Not sure of the first year automatics went in trucks.

Sal
 
Up to mid year 56, all Fordo's were air cooled. As I never saw a provision for cooling lines, I assume the trucks were the same.

scicala said:
When you say the first few years, do you mean starting in 1951 ?
Not sure of the first year automatics went in trucks.

Sal
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In an old parts book they listed a part number for an external transmission cooler
as (PAD 7870-A) for '53 to '55 Ford pickups. I'd guess, because they were used
for pulling and hauling, they needed better trans cooling than the cars.









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On my '71 F100, I changed the engine/transmission from 360, 3speed w/OD to 429, C6. I made the transmission cooler out of parts salvaged from an old freezer. Mounted it in front of the radiator. I did include a temp gauge in the line coming out of the transmission, but never had a problem, even pulling loaded trailers in the mountains.
 
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