Tranny cooler orientation

[HISSIN50]

Hello,

I need to install a stacked-plate tranny-cooler and I have not installed one before (might I add that, ahem, the instructions leave something to be desired. ). Does it matter what the orientation of the cooler is (said another way, cant i mount any crazy way I want, or does it have a 'top' or anything like that)?

I was going to mount it 'sideways' so that the two fittings [for input and output] are on the side. this will make running the lines around the side of the radiator a straight shot, rather than needing to radius the lines as they leave the cooler. At first, i was gonna' use the lower side fitting for output, so gravity could help move fluid through the coil. But then i thought about it and thought that if i had the input at the top, that would help to purge air in the coil. Thoughts?

I think i got most of it covered, sans this stuff. But i welcome any tips/tricks (especially not-so-obvious ones).

Thanks for any and all input.

 

[Daggar]

You're not going to make any noticable difference in the cooling with mount orientation. So long as the thing is in the air-stream some kinda way, you're golden.

 

[89MustangGX]

I would also think it makes no difference.

 

[Mustang5L5]

If you mount a fan to it you could mount it sideways if you wanted.

 

[sn9550]

I called B&M's tech line a while back to ask the same question. Just as the others say it doesn't make any difference.

 

[90mustangGT]

Putting it in the airflow, especaily in front of the fan would give it constant cooling. Some say this isn't good for the function of the radiator, so the best setup is remote with it's own fan.

 

[HISSIN50]

Thanks guys. I am not doing a separate fan (There will be a gauge to monitor temps and we will go from there).

I am mounting it with brackets (I hate it when people cheese out and zip it through the condensor) so that will allow a little more 'breathing room' between the units.
I will have a small dryer duct pulling air up to it (but so as to not suck water) and it is mounted in front of the section of radiator containing the elec fan, so it should help while stationary. it I come across a cheap fan (I was thinking of using a small crotchrocket fan - the one on one of my bikes would be about right. ) but that would be in the future.

I was just concerned with jacking up the tranny cooler's flow by mounting it 'upside down' or something to that effect. I am not all that familiar with the low pressure side of automatics.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[90mustangGT]

Don't worry about it being upside down or anything, the extra pressure to push the fluid up will be countered be the rest flowing down.

I'm having the same issue with my engine oil cooler. Last time I mounted it on the radiator with those mounting zip ties, well, it cut my radiator and made it leak. I'm replacing it with a Griffin and I'm not taking chances.

 

[sgarlic]

I am mounting it with brackets (I hate it when people cheese out and zip it through the condensor) so that will allow a little more 'breathing room' between the units.
I will have a small dryer duct pulling air up to it (but so as to not suck water)

Thanks for all the input.

Using zip ties through the rad is cheesy, but running dryer hose inside the engine compartment isn't ? LOL.

I mounted mine sideways so the hoses are on the driver side, which made it a lot easier to route the hoses up by the rad. My directions said it doesn't matter how you mount it, but that's already been covered.

Good luck bud.

 

[HISSIN50]

Using zip ties through the rad is cheesy, but running dryer hose inside the engine compartment isn't ? LOL.

I mounted mine sideways so the hoses are on the driver side, which made it a lot easier to route the hoses up by the rad. My directions said it doesn't matter how you mount it, but that's already been covered.

Good luck bud.

Andy, it is not as bad as it sounds. this is on the 94. the dryer duct will be less than one foot long (From the strakes which face the ground [under the front bumper] to the cooler itself - totally out of sight at all times, unless you are lying under the car).

And that is exactly how i mounted the cooler - we had the same thought (I did not want to do the long radius 90* bend to get the lines heading toward the driver side). Thanks for the input/feedback.

Jason, thanks again for the input. I am sorry to hear about your radiator. fortunately Summit has some decent prices on alum radiators (if you go that route). BTW, I did not mean to offend anyone who has used zip ties - i dont like it from a heat transfer standpoint (having all the coils bunched up removes some efficiency from each ascending coil). plus I am afraid to run zip ties through stuff.

 

[sgarlic]

BTW, I did not mean to offend anyone who has used zip ties - i dont like it from a heat transfer standpoint (having all the coils bunched up removes some efficiency from each ascending coil). plus I am afraid to run zip ties through stuff.

Ah it's ok.. no offense taken.. I don't have a condensor anyway.

 

[HISSIN50]

Ah it's ok.. no offense taken.. I don't have a condensor anyway.

Don't worry bud. once we hit 105*F or so, i will bring you some ice cold gatorade to drink while driving around.