1991 D1 Tranny cooler - has anyone used an aftermarket tranny cooler

[Brian425]

Hello,
I have a 1999 D1 that has a pin hole in the tranny cooler. I have hit it with PB Blaster for 2 days and it seems that the fittings are frozen on. Rather than spend my weekend trying not to destroy the cooler while removing the lines, I am considering using an aftermarket cooler.

I have used B&M and ATI tranny coolers on several applications and am happy to use them. I was cusious if anyone has had experience with this installation. I have some tranny fluid hose and goodclamps, I just need to spend $75 - $100 for a good cooler.

Anything I am missing?

Thanks for the advice.

Brian

 

[Vegas99D1]

Sorry, don't have any advice...if you go forward with fitting a aftermarket cooler, please post up as a project...let us know how you did it, what parts/part numbers used, any drawbacks, etc...would make a great sticky.

Thanks and good luck!

 

[RoverbyProxy]

Shouldn't be much to it, I had used a couple aftermarket coolers in the past on other vehicles. Only part to add would be some foam square blocks to place between the coolers to prevent vibration wear. Aftermkt coolers usually come with a type of zip tie to mount to the exising rad. and these spacers would be needed. Foam weather adhesive or door seals work great.

 

[Ben]

You can use a tubing cutter to cut the pipes and a 37 degree flaring tool to roll AN flares, and then fit -8 AN fittings to the new cooler with anti-seize on the threads. You can use hose, or bend tubing.

The fluid exits the cooler into the heat exchanger on the radiator. This returns the fluid to operating temperature if it is overcooled. This avoids the need for a bypass type thermostat. It's also a good reminder that a lot of excess cooling capacity isn't helpful.

 

[crown14]

You could also do the most simple thing which is get a good used cooler and some new lines as your old ones are probably leaking or about to spring a leak any day now. We used to take used coolers to a local transmission specialist who flushed/backflushed them with clean heated trans fluid but haven't seen a demand for those in some months. The last crate full of good used D1 transmssion coolers was sold to the recycler, I believe as 'refinery metal'. I am sure I have several more if you want to save yourself some trouble.

I also want to add I ran an aftermarket cooler on my truck for a few months when I was sorting out the optimum intercooler placement, and in order to get one that is as tough and works as well as the factory one you will need to spend the big bucks. The cheap coolers (I think my B&M was $110) install easily but are meant for motorhomes and not offroading, but perhaps you don't wheel your truck. Also you will need to find one with 1/2 ports instead of 3/8 because that is what size hose you will be clamping onto the cutoff ends of your old cooler lines. I can't remember where I managed to find proper 1/2 transmission line hose but it was not a corner store item. Due to the vibration from the TDI my clamps would never stay tight, but you probably won't have that issue.

 

[Brian425]

Crown, sent you a PM.

I thought that stock coolers would still be expensive used. I wish I knew you guys were selling them for scrap.

If I can source a good used one cheap, I will replace with OEM. They are $300 new.

Brian