• Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech

will old intercooler work for teans cooler?

  • Thread starter Thread starter biggyfan1
  • Start date Start date Aug 2, 2007

biggyfan1

Member
Mar 10, 2006
186
1
18
High Desert CA
Aug 2, 2007
#1
  • Aug 2, 2007
  • #1
will old intercooler work for trans cooler?

i just took off my friends intercooler out of a 2003 cobra and i was woundering if it will work for a trans cooler on my 1966 C4? thanks
 

rbohm

Founding Member
Apr 12, 2002
6,698
550
204
tucson,az
Aug 2, 2007
#2
  • Aug 2, 2007
  • #2
it will work reasonably well as a fluid to air cooler. you can improve the efficiency by adding a fan to push or pull air across the cooler.
 

brianj5600

Active Member
Sep 19, 2003
1,964
2
39
Middle TN
Aug 2, 2007
#3
  • Aug 2, 2007
  • #3
I don't know how much pressure they can hold. A trans cooler line carries 4 or more times as much pressure as the cooler off a cobra. I would not try it. That does not mean it will fail, but I would not chance it.
 

biggyfan1

Member
Mar 10, 2006
186
1
18
High Desert CA
Aug 3, 2007
#4
  • Aug 3, 2007
  • #4
so you think the pressure would be to much for the intercooler? im looking at the intercooler and an old trans cooler out of a F150 and the material looks thicker on the cooler. just my 2 cents.
 

rbohm

Founding Member
Apr 12, 2002
6,698
550
204
tucson,az
Aug 3, 2007
#5
  • Aug 3, 2007
  • #5
the transcooler pretty much only has to deal with line pressure, which on a street car can be as much as 150psi. the intercooler has to deal with boost pressure which can be as high as 20psi depending on what pulley you use, but it also has to deal with its own cooling system pressure, which is nominal, and it has to deal with engine vibration and block twisting. as long as the intercooler is made of metal, usually aluminum, it should be strong enough to handle the line pressure of the transmission.
 
P

PJx5x

Member
Mar 30, 2005
197
0
16
Chicago
Aug 3, 2007
#6
  • Aug 3, 2007
  • #6
Are you sure you dont have the heat exchanger from the cobra?

The HX is mounted in the front bumper, and cools the blower's coolant. The coolant then travels to the intercooler mounted in the intake under the blower, where it cools the boosted air.
 

biggyfan1

Member
Mar 10, 2006
186
1
18
High Desert CA
Aug 3, 2007
#7
  • Aug 3, 2007
  • #7
PJx5x said:
Are you sure you dont have the heat exchanger from the cobra?

The HX is mounted in the front bumper, and cools the blower's coolant. The coolant then travels to the intercooler mounted in the intake under the blower, where it cools the boosted air.
Click to expand...

yes your right i am talking about the heat exchanger which has coolant running through it. well it did at one time but not now. i was under the impression it was the same thing. but lets not get off subject. if i can save a few bux and use the "heat exchanger"off of the 2003 cobra and use it as a trans cooler on my 1966 mustang i would love to use it, if not i would love to trash it hehehe. i think it looks like it really just comes down to what pressure it can handle. and im not sure.
 

brianj5600

Active Member
Sep 19, 2003
1,964
2
39
Middle TN
Aug 3, 2007
#8
  • Aug 3, 2007
  • #8
If it fails at wot in 3rd gear and pumps trans fluid under the car, it would be quite a ride. Hopefully it would loose all line pressure and basically go to neutral. You can get a good cooler for less than 75 bucks and have something that is designed to flow/cool a more viscous fluid and take the pressure of a trans. Get a plate type not a tube type. Again, I do not know if it will fail, but I would not be the guinea pig. It might outlast all of us.
 

biggyfan1

Member
Mar 10, 2006
186
1
18
High Desert CA
Aug 3, 2007
#9
  • Aug 3, 2007
  • #9
lol yah i hear yuh. im looking at coolers and they are not to bad in price. it was worth the time to ask tho. i was looking for an answer like duh we have been doing that for years and it works fine lol but i guess not this time. thanks for your input.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Oil cooler delete 4v 4.6 1999 cobra mustang
  • sami12
  • Feb 24, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
5
Views
280
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Feb 25, 2026
GOvert
G
C
C4 trans help needed
  • CPH89LX
  • Apr 26, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
6
Views
138
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Apr 28, 2026
CPH89LX
C
Vortech v3 Si Blow-Off Valve
  • seanmahoney
  • Jun 9, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
247
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Jun 9, 2025
seanmahoney
M
85 Capri 5.0 transmission rattle
  • Mamaclean
  • May 2, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
112
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 17, 2026
Mamaclean
M
R
First project car and first time learning on cars
  • Rustang jr
  • Oct 2, 2025
  • The Welcome Wagon
Replies
9
Views
319
The Welcome Wagon Oct 6, 2025
Rustang jr
R
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?