If you have an auto transmission that used the cooler in the radiator and changed to an external transmission cooler. What did you use for cooling lines? Cut and splice? New lines? What did you use? I see some aluminum radiators don't have built in tranny coolers. And was wondering what you did if you changed from this set up(built-in) to an external cooler?

Most kits come with the fittings and the external coolers are "T"ed and ran in line with the cooler in the radiator. Those radiators you see without the coolers are for manual trans. cars. If you had to use a radiator like that, you could splice into your lines (by cutting or using fittings) and just run the external cooler but, make sure you are using a large cooler to avoid trouble.

My radiator was built for the tranny lines to run through as well. Plugged them off, and ran mild steel 5/16'' (if I remember right) line from the tranny to an external tranny cooler located in front of the radiator on a custom bracket. The lines were very easy to bend with a cheap tubing bender, took very little time. I ran the lines all the way to the tranny cooler. Unfortunately, the used cooler leaked at the input, and later the input on the cooler itself snapped off.

Looking to buy a new one, and cannot find the same model, so I'll be making a new bracket, and lines. One disappointment, is all tranny coolers I've found thus far, use rubber hose for the connections into the peice. I'll need new lines as well.

Local auto stores sell the line, wasn't more than 10 dollars and an hours worth of work.

They will also sell the radiator plug (threaded one end, flat allen head wrench on the outside), if it didn't come with your radiator. Cheap as well.

Hope this helps.

apbtrock, this unit has threaded holes. Designed to run along the frame rail instead of up in front of the radiator. Available in 12" $48 and 20" $68 from Racemart. I'm going this route on my 63 Nova because I plan to install an AC condenser up front and there just isn't enough room for everything.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/randys-racemart_1980_2069615

My radiator was built for the tranny lines to run through as well. Plugged them off, and ran mild steel 5/16'' (if I remember right) line from the tranny to an external tranny cooler located in front of the radiator on a custom bracket.
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One disappointment, is all tranny coolers I've found thus far, use rubber hose for the connections into the peice. I'll need new lines as well.


You really should use both the radiator and aux coolers together, the heat transfer from a fluid/fluid heat exchanger is much more effective than an air/fluid exchanger.
Summit handles the flex-a-lite coolers with #6an fittings look at
p/n flx-3820-6.

I have an auto with just an external cooler. I used 3/8 fuel line with 2 hose clamps to connect the lines to the cooler. I have had it this way for five years. This is the wrong way to do it but it has worked for me. :D

we use a fluidyne cooler in the nova...use hydrolic quick connect hose with the correct fittings on the trans end, and fluidynes fittings on the cooler end...its a fluid to fluid cooler, and works ausumn...(it should for the $)i dont trust the autozone trans line for any kind of long run(more than 18 inches or so) and never around any kind of heat(like hedders)the blue hydrolic hose we use is good for the long runs and takes the heat as well...if only running an external, look for one that has a fairly large surface area, and if possible, one that has a dedicated fan on it...you can find them for 100 bux or so, and the ones i`m talking about have a threaded in and output as well....

I removed the orgnal steel lines and stored away.
got crimped hoses at one end, made at a local hydrolic service company for a few bucks.
These screwed into the trans, and ran to the new cooler mounted to the bottom of the radiator leaning back towards the chassis frame.
Ran the hoses and attached to brackets etc
Cut the hoses to length and connected to the cooler.

That makes sense.

Thanks for the heads-up, will definitely do it the right way, now that I know better ;)

Electrical is one area of the vehicle I dread to mess with. For this reason, I decided against a tranny cooler with a built in fan. Won't be too difficult at all to redirect the (new) old line back into the radiator, and then into the tranny cooler.

Kustom- you're saying you don't trust the mild steel lines? It's a nice TCI th350 tranny and stall, so I can afford to spend a few extra bucks and do it the right way. Where do you get the line?

Which is prefered, that, or the braided line the kit is designed for?

-6AN from the tranny to radiator/cooler doesn't sound too bad, lord knows I already spent enough doing the entire fuel system this way.

First project of this type I've built from the ground-up so I appreciate all the advice, and will listen to the members word on which is best, and build it that way. Hydraulic or -AN fellas?

My opinion; its all in what you want I think 6-an all the way.