External trans cooler bolt on.

[Kyle]

Hey guys, im friends with a guy who has shop that does a lot of custom work for street cars, and i was talking to him about adding an external trans cooler to my 3. I was telling him that you have to cut the oem lines and adapt in lines to fit the cooler. After checking things out hes going to build a trans cooler that will bolt up using the stock lines, so no more cutting and splicing! If everything goes right hes going to start build kits and selling them! So if anyone is interested in this ill be updating this thread with photos and stuff as the build goes on!


Sent from the top of a mountain in my h3

 

[Paladine71]

Interested, for an Alpha!

 

[ReconH3]

That's an awesome idea. Especially for the Alphas.


"Ex Umbris Venimus"

 

[cgalpha08]

Definitely interested!

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[Bigunit]

Yes.

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[H3nightrod]

I'm interested!

 

[Kyle]

How different are the alphas? Hes going to be using my i-5 to design it!


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[Ron46]

Interested!!

 

[poncho1965]

I'm interested as well


Mike

 

[amrg]

Where would a possible location be for someone with a dual electric fan setup?

Otherwise, interested.

 

[Kyle]

Where would a possible location be for someone with a dual electric fan setup?

Otherwise, interested.

Im not sure, have you deleted the fan that runs off the motor?


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[f5moab]

How different are the alphas? Hes going to be using my i-5 to design it!


Sent from the top of a mountain in my h3

If I remember correctly, they use the same radiator; so trans line connections will be the same. Only difference might be in the lines but it would be for routing purposes around the engine and mounts, etc.

So mounting location of the cooler should be the same for both engines, and if they are designing one with pre-attached hoses/lines to attach to the existing lines there should be no difference.

For best cooling, mount the sucker high on the radiator. Mine was originally mounted low but was relocated to the top and it cools noticeably better. I do have a winch that blocks some airflow, but so will many others. Just a thought.... (Oh and stacked plate design cooler is more efficient than a tube/fin design...just a note)

 

[f5moab]

Where would a possible location be for someone with a dual electric fan setup?

Otherwise, interested.

I'm assuming you have the dual electric fans installed on the rear side of the radiator (between radiator and engine). The trans cooler mounts on the outside of the radiator (between the grille and the radiator, next ot the condenser). If you have pusher fans installed between the grille and the radiator...not sure.

 

[06 H3]

F5 is spot on! I would take everything he says and relay it to your guy that's making it.

The stacked plate is much more efficient and my heating issues escalated with the winch.

 

[Kyle]

Okay, so 1. Stacked plate cooler 2.mounted high.

Should it mount high and in the middle?


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[f5moab]

Okay, so 1. Stacked plate cooler 2.mounted high.

Should it mount high and in the middle?



Sent from the top of a mountain in my h3

Mine is located at the top right of the radiator (that would be top left if looking at the radiator from the front of the vehicle). That gives it full contact with incoming air. I tested both locations climbing the Lasal loop road, from Spanish Valley to Geyser pass road, at 35 mph at the same ambient temps and a 3000 foot increase in altitude, and the upper location gave me 10 degrees less in trans temp.

 

[06 H3]

There is also debate that plate and fin is even more efficient then stacked plate. Just stay away from tube and fin IMO

 

[Kyle]

There is also debate that plate and fin is even more efficient then stacked plate. Just stay away from tube and fin IMO

A lot of people always think something is better than something else, i always say prove to me that its better and then ill take sides. Hahaha


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[amrg]

I'm assuming you have the dual electric fans installed on the rear side of the radiator (between radiator and engine). The trans cooler mounts on the outside of the radiator (between the grille and the radiator, next ot the condenser). If you have pusher fans installed between the grille and the radiator...not sure.

The dual fans are actually mounted between the grille and the radiator (SA model factory setup). The horn is actually located between the air intake box and the passenger side headlamp. Cooling wise it does wonders btw (temp gauge never goes above halfway even in 50+ degrees Celsius). Clutch fan is still in place too. I guess Id be able to mount them on the other side of the radiator maybe? Between radiator and engine?

 

[06 H3]

A lot of people always think something is better than something else, i always say prove to me that its better and then ill take sides. Hahaha


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Do some research you will realize the plate and fin is very good. I plan to use a plate and fin. IMO it goes plate and fin then stacked plate then tube and fin

 

[Kyle]

Do some research you will realize the plate and fin is very good. I plan to use a plate and fin. IMO it goes plate and fin then stacked plate then tube and fin

Yea hes going to to use the stacked fin like f5 said


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[f5moab]

Love to see some empirical data on BTU ratings between the exact (or very similar) size plate/fin vs. stacked plate.
But, the other thing to note to the person adapting these coolers is to make sure there is an internal bypass feature that is temperature dependent. You want that really cold fluid in northern winter climates to bypass the cooler so it can warm up.

 

[Kyle]

Love to see some empirical data on BTU ratings between the exact (or very similar) size plate/fin vs. stacked plate.
But, the other thing to note to the person adapting these coolers is to make sure there is an internal bypass feature that is temperature dependent. You want that really cold fluid in northern winter climates to bypass the cooler so it can warm up.

Internal bypass, just made a note of it!


Sent from the top of a mountain in my h3