A/C Condenser as a Tranny Cooler????

[kilomanjaro]

I have a wierd idea and wanted to see what people thought. I have a 72 4x4 blazer that was an original AC truck. I live in Alaska, and have no use for the AC. I was never planning to put the AC compressor, hoses, drier, and condenser on, though I still have the parts. I was planning on putting an additional (aftermarket) tranny cooler on.

Here is the weird idea, what if I just plumb my tranny cooler lines into the a/c condenser instead of an aftermarket cooler? I think it would serve the purpose of the tranny cooler, but look stock. I am a "stock" kind of guy....to a point.

What do you guys think? Thanks for your input.

John

[weircc]

my tranny guy told me the rad is best cooler because coolant is gonna cool better than air day

[SWEET7T]

That is one big trans cooler. I would be afraid that it would over-cool and you would constantly have cold fluid. Install a bypass valve so that the fluid can bypass the cooler during cold temperatures.

I installed a large cooler in my '97 for pulling my toyhauler. I have a B&M. During the winter and running empty my trans rarely gets above 100*F (measured at pressure test port).

[cdowns]

running tranny too cool will shorten the life of the tranny

['70_402]

Originally Posted by weircc

my tranny guy told me the rad is best cooler because coolant is gonna cool better than air day

not sure i agree with this... i personally use a B&M cooler mounted in front of my radiator.

[t76turbo]

Originally Posted by '70_402

not sure i agree with this... i personally use a B&M cooler mounted in front of my radiator.

There are some variables that can make his statement true. A radiator based cooler will cool better than an inadequately sized external cooler.

However, an external sized appropriately will give the ability to cool below the cooling systems 'ambient' temp of 190-200degrees +/-.

I have tried lots of combos on a few of my previous cars. Turbocharged Mercury Marauder for one with a fully built race trans and 3200 stall converter. I ended up bypassing the radiator cooler to avoid contamination if it ever leaked inside the radiator and went with a very large front mount trans cooler like you did. Size IS everything.