I was thinking about upgrading the stock tranny cooler in my '91 Laredo. My questions are this.. is the transmission fluid cooler an actualy component much like a radiator/condensor or is it just some lines that run along the front of the radiator? I also considered hooking up a transmission temp gauge. What is the normal operating temp of the AW4 tranny?

Basically, if anyone has a good setup they did, I would love to know. I have no clue where to get this and how to do it, however I figured a cooler runnin tranny lasts longer and rides easier. Plus, I do an occasional hauling of small things like a riding mower. Thanks for any input!

 

i have a 91 sport and it had lines going to and from the radiator for tranny fluid, so i connected the return line from rad into the cooler and then back to the tranny, no pics srry :P and i just used a universal kit with all the hardware for like 40$

 

I used a cooler from autozone it was like 40 bucks. I cut the lines and mounted it under the car(no offroading) with a e-fan i had extra to blow air through it all the time. Ill try to get pics and part number tomorrow.

 

How did this work out for you? I saw a medium duty one at A/Z i considered getting.. I dont really haul or offroad, just a riding mower and random things. Never really tow over a 1000 pounds.

 

find one of the factory ones at the JY. they are plentiful here and they work in addition to the one you have already..... simple 2 line hook up with no modifying or cutting lines.

 

So just basically have two stock coolers running side by side? Would this be as functional as a medium duty cooler from A/Z?

 

Tranny coolers are known to collect junk, crud, gunk.... some of the gunk can be flushed out, some not.....kinda like old radiators but at least radiators can be rodded out by a shop, tranny coolers can't. How well did the previous owner(s) of the donor vehicle maintain the tranny????? I would recommend spending the extra $ to get a known internally clean tranny cooler. The factory auxiliary unit looks to be the smallest of the small. Just my $0.02. Our plan is to install a B&M #70264 cooler next week.

http://www.jegs.com/i/B-M/130/70264/...oductId=758370

 

Well, I think I will take your $0.02. This is the one I was lookin at buying from A/Z.



This is actually a heavy duty one I found that was like $5 more than medium, so I figured wth just get it. It is brazed aluminum, super cool (w/e that is). I take it this thing just mounts up beside the condensor and a line from the tranny enters and then another line takes it back? Btw, with my new rad can I keep the tranny cooler and just have all that protection or is it too much?

 

I always mount the tranny cooler in front of the a/c condenser, between the grill and condenser. Run a line from where the internal rad cooler tranny fluid exits to the new auxiliary cooler, then from the new cooler back to the transmission.

 

I didn't know it mounts in front of the condensor.. I always figured that the extra space beside it would be good a place. Disperse the heat all around the rad rather than on one side.Then again, I suppose the extra space could yet be used to mount another electric fan. Am I able to both whichever way I decide to mount the cooler? Beside or behind?

 

For MAX efficiency, it needs to be mounted in the best/direct air flow which would be behind the grill and toward the passenger side of center (in front of the belt driven fan).

 

Oh, well in that case I should prob be able to mount it beside the condensor because I am also going to drop an all electric fan kit into my XJ. Thanks again for all the help. VERY VERY much appreciated.

 

if you can find any wrecked 3 series bmws in the junkyard, lots of them came with tranny coolers that are long and thin, like an intercooler. you can mount in a lower spot so its not blocking the radiator so much

 

Also, the fan kit I am getting is a three fan set with a combined total of 3300 cfm. I think the 4.0 needs only about 2000 cfm to stay cool doesnt it? So everything should stay nice and cool.

 

check my build for the tranny temp gauge and pillar pod i have
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