Thread: Transmission Cooler

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If you're going to run a spreader bar, this may work for you.

I've been running the front spreader as a trans cooler since the car was first running in 1993.

An additional help for trans cooling is a Derale trans pan on the T-400. (These have longitudinal tubes through them to help carry heat away and they're about an inch deeper as well.)

Whatever you do, install a trans temperature gauge and monitor trans temps.
Especially if you have a higher than stock stall speed converter.

This trans cooler works well and the only place the trans gets warm is climbing the slow switchbacks into Sequoia Nationa Park.
The higher than stock stall speed converter doesn't lock up solid at slower speeds - in 2nd gear - and adds heat on a hot summer day.

The spreader shown on the 32 is 2" OD, about .063 wall thickness.
Surprisingly no one has ever commented on the larger than normal OD of the spreader bar.

My 31 gets a 1 3/4" spreader bar/trans cooler and the fittings on that one will enter and leave from the top with 90 degree turns to the back.
That bleeds the air out better than the horizontal fittings on the 32 do.

Effective radiation area on the 32's spreader/cooler is in excess of 120 square inches.
The 31 will have a little over 100 square inches of radiation area.

Dark colors radiate heat better.
The 32's spreader/cooler is powdered black and the 31 will end up the same.

A lot of folks notice the braided lines up front, but only a few have figured out what they're for.

A more extensive write-up including an exploded view of the 31's spreader/cooler is in Rod & Custom Mag.
About November 2-3 years ago I believe.