Was wondering what most of you have done for the cooling lines to the tranny. I currently have an external cooler and thought that was the way to go. I am in the market to purchase a new radiator and have spoken to a few sources. Ron Davis being one of them.
One tech guy there had told me that the case scenario was actually using the integrated colling within the radiator as well as running an external.
Any feedback on this would be great. Just seems to be a little overkill to me, But I am willing to go with what is best.

Will be running a 383ci w/approx. 600+ hp. TH400

I used AN -6 lines and it looks better and cleaner than hard line in my opinion.
As for the external cooler in series with the radiator cooler, I wouldn't worry about that. Basically a good external cooler will take care of cooling, and the internal cooler will help warm up the fluid when it's cold out. According to my tranny guy that's not needed on most all applications, TH400 being one, and with the exception of AOD trannys I believe.

Thanks Sean. you don't have any pics of your set-up by any chance do you??

As for cooling the trans, think about it in terms of a factory built car or truck designed for light duty use. The radiator worked fine for normal use, now ask the factory to prep that truck for towing and along with all the oversized brakes, clutches, suspensions you get an external trans cooler.

The radiator alone may not drop the temp enough if your trans is getting used hard and heating up (600+ hp isn't going to be easy on a tranny). An external cooler may actually over cool so if you have both you run to the external first then to the radiator, that way what returns to the trans is sure to be right around 180 degs.

Thanks Sean. you don't have any pics of your set-up by any chance do you??

I don't but I could try to get some, I'll check it out tonight. Might be tough to get good shots in the car but I'll see.

An external cooler may actually over cool so if you have both you run to the external first then to the radiator, that way what returns to the trans is sure to be right around 180 degs.

This is kind of what I was referring to, never reaching a good operating temp. According to my trans guy with a TH350, 400 and PG this is not an issue, especially if using a higher than factory stall.
I'm by no means a trans guy, but that's how our trans guy explained it to me when I asked this very question. I believe not reaching proper temp is more of an AOD issue.

Perfect Dennis, that makes a lot of sense!! Appreciate the help.

No big deal Sean!! If you can cool, If not I'm sure I can go to the local car show this Friday Night and get some pics myself.
Thanks anyways

No big deal Sean!! If you can cool, If not I'm sure I can go to the local car show this Friday Night and get some pics myself.
Thanks anyways

No problem at all, glad I can be of help!

If you want to add an external cooler along with your existing radiator cooler go to www.transmissioncenter.net/highperf700r4.htm. Scroll down a little ways and they have a little diagram of how to hookup and additional cooler.

BTO makes a nice cooling line setup...
http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/catalog/catalog.php?Action=GETSUBCAT&CATID=U

Awesome Ted, Thanks a bunch!!

If you want to add an external cooler along with your existing radiator cooler go to www.transmissioncenter.net/highperf700r4.htm. Scroll down a little ways and they have a little diagram of how to hookup and additional cooler.

I'm no transmission guy but if this is what you are refering to I would question it.

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/tc.gif

Here's what I understand, the radiator core is fed hot coolant in at the top and returns it cooled through the bottom. They show running the hot trans fluid to the bottom and out the top. For optimal cooling I would think you would want the trans fluid leaving the core at it's coolest point which would be at the bottom of the core.

I'm no transmission guy but if this is what you are refering to I would question it.

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/tc.gif

Here's what I understand, the radiator core is fed hot coolant in at the top and returns it cooled through the bottom. They show running the hot trans fluid to the bottom and out the top. For optimal cooling I would think you would want the trans fluid leaving the core at it's coolest point which would be at the bottom of the core.
First Dennis, that's a Ford/Chrysler setup, i.e.; crude. Gm uses cross-flow radiators with the trany cooler receiving only lowest temp coolant after transiting the entire radiator.
And running fluid so as to counter the coolant in the exchanger (hottest fluid enters at coldest point and travels to the hottest spot) is standard heat exchanger plumbing. Don't even think about doing it any other way.

And this diagram is how my setup is plumbed, except I use a proper radiator. Been that way for forty years this summer. Never had a heat problem. More cooling is always good when it comes to our transmissions. Their life expectancy is on a linear scale. Less heat=longer life.:hurray:

I am not a tranny guy either. I figured that PATC was. And they had it on their site. If there are questions maybe it best if you ask them. I just was trying to help a fellow TC member out that asked a question.

I used 3/8 Hardline up alongside to the end of the block near the pulleys, then used braided hose to go up and around the radiator support to connect to the trans cooler hanging off the front the of the radiator. Hardline is more durable but I figured I wanted some ability to let the motor move and to dampen the vibration with the braided.

I am not a tranny guy either. I figured that PATC was. And they had it on their site. If there are questions maybe it best if you ask them. I just was trying to help a fellow TC member out that asked a question.

Ted your help is appreciated, I just have questions and asked them. I don't care if it is a drawing of a water cooled VW it works for illustration, Fred seems to have some knowledge about heat exchange, maybe he will explain more why you hit the hot with the cooler first and then return it through the hot part of the core..

I know from the factory the trans is plumbed to the core top to top and bottom to bottom. I was told a long time ago it was ideal to return the trans fluid to the trans at 180 degs. Logic says leaving the rad core at the bottom it would be cooler than leaving the top of the core.

Anyone know which fitting on the trans the fluid is pumped out of? Again logic says the lower one based on it's external position but maybe they both originate at the same point or level internally.

Back in the old days, towing my ski boat to Florida, my girl friend and I broke down in Casper Wyoming. The radiator needed help. When everything was together we drove to a car wash to get rid of the mess from the repairs. I popped the hood. Engine running in neutral. POW. Cooler hose blew off of the upper radiator fitting and shot a solid stream of Dexron against the firewall as if it was a laser beam. Shut her down in .000001 seconds. (I wish) what a mess. Anyway, the upper radiator pipe is the outlet. (and we didn't have access to those Dorman fittings like now)

That ski boat had many coolers. One or more for each system including engine oil and fresh water cooling. I personally experimented with each system as to the proper way to hook them up. Some didn't have a guage, but those that did, without fail, ran 10° hotter when plumbed to travel the same direction as the cooing water. That was the early '70's so things might have changed.:noway:

Here's a look at a refrigeration condenser on my sail boat. Look to the very bottom-left. See that black thing?
It's hard to tell but the two copper pipes that curve into the bottom are different sizes. The near pipe is for liquid (cooled) refrigerant. The far pipe is a line carrying gas, and in need to dump heat. The near black hose is raw cooling water headed to the far side of the exchanger and then to the engine.
Opposing flow. Works well.
There is a text book section in refrigeration that says to avoid over cooling the gas. That lowers the pressure too much and the system isn't as efficient. Hey! I'll believe anything! See one of those two red firecrackers on the receiver? One of them is for sensing gas temp and shutting off a solenoid valve unseen under the deck. Forgetaboutit! All testing showed cool down rates were better without the solenoid. I'm a big fan of engineers but sometimes they're a little weird, especially the guy who extolled keeping the CFC's warm. Oh, please forgive the 'contruction-mess shot.
http://epitomesrebuild.com/images/55.JPG

FWIW - Here's how mine is plumbed. Hot from trans to bottom radiator fitting. Top rad fitting to stacked plate external cooler, then back to trans. Keeps it nice and cool - never above 150.

Good point Dennis!!

I would like to thank everyone for clarifying the initial question that I had. I will now apply what I learned and most likely Go with using both the external and the radiator. I have poked around a bit as well and have discovered that going IN the bottom of the radiator from the Tranny out the top fitting of the radiator and through the external back to the tranny seems to be the best scenario.
Basically what a few of you have already mentioned.
Thanks again guys!!

Glad to help Albert. Stick around too.