Tru-Cool 40k trans cooler remote install with dual electric fans

[ndopita]

Hello all,

Just wanted to share my installation of a Tru-Cool 40k on my pickup. Truck is a '69 C10 longbed with a turbo'd 5.3 and 4l80e. I was previously running the radiator cooler along with a decent size tube and fin cooler up front. I was never able to control the transmission temp with this setup so I decided to start fresh and remote mount a standalone tru-cool under the bed with dual electric fans.

I have been running this setup for almost a year now with nothing but awesome results. I was even able to hot-lap it with no issues at an 1/8 mile heads up no-prep event on a 100+ degree afternoon and keep the trans under 170 degrees easily. It also has no issues sitting in traffic with zero airflow. The Holley kicks the fans on at 150 degrees and they will cool the trans down to 140 and shut the fans off in a matter of minutes, especially cruising with the converter locked.

Here are the parts I used:

Tru-Cool 40K - tons of vendors on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...l+40k&_sacat=0

Dual Fan Shroud - https://www.ebay.com/usr/kan-madeproducts

Fans - https://www.americanvolt.com/collect...66aa8023&_ss=c

Installation was no big deal at all. I bent up some simple angle brackets out of some leftover 14 gauge steel. The brackets bolt to the supports under the bed and space the top of the cooler down about 1" under the supports. The shroud bolts right up to the cooler using the bolts that come with the cooler. A little drilling is required to bolt the fans to the shroud, but you just center the fans on the holes in the shroud and drill out where you need to bolt through. I just used barb fittings and transmission hose to save some money but you could also us AN or hardlines just as easily. I ran both fans on a single relay that is triggered by the Holley.

I will post photos of it all below. Thanks for reading!

[ndopita]

As promised, here are some photos

[PbFut]

I like your idea. I have been fooling with hot fluid on my truck. Tranny is a thm350 and beginning to suspect the converter is the culprit. I picked up a 8 inch fan and a similar new pancake cooler about 10 ×10. I have it mounted but not hooked up yet. I don't like the idea of it in front of the AC condenser in its current position. I think I might relocate to something similar to your setup. Thanks for the idea.

[MikeB]

What is your reasoning for keeping the fluid down at 140-150 degrees? I have always heard that 175-225 is optimal.

My truck has been using this small stacked plate B&M cooler for >20 years, but have to say I've never checked the fluid temperature. I have its big brother in a box, and I'm wondering if I should use it instead of the smaller one, mostly just because I have it.

BTW, where are the exhaust pipes?

[ndopita]

PbFut I also did this due to lack of space in the grill. There’s already a 4” thick intercooler sandwiched between the grill and radiator, so adding another 1”+ transmission cooler would be difficult plus would just put more heat where I don’t want it

[ndopita]

MikeB, since it has a turbo I routed the downpipe out through the front inner fender and the exhaust runs on the outside of the framerail and points out before the rear wheel. I like to keep my trans pretty cool because I figure if the fluid in the pan is 150 it’s probably closer to that “optimal” range inside the converter and other moving part areas. Just a personal preference

[ndopita]

Update to this - at the time this was posted you were only able to buy the shrouds, but now you are able to buy kits that also include the fans and the cooler. I also do not recommend buying the transmission cooler from ebay as there is a high chance that it is a Chinese knockoff, instead I would purchase it from Oregon Performance Transmission. Lastly, the shrouds/kits are also now available directly from the KAN-Made Products website and there is no added sales tax like ebay automatically adds in.

https://kanmadeproducts.myshopify.com/

https://www.oregonperformancetransmi...LNG-47391.html

[lawrenq]

Thanks for this post, I had my mind set on a tru cool or derale with a fan for my 8l90 but this shroud and fan sealed the deal. I mounted mines to the floor brace under the cab.

[KQQL IT]

Originally Posted by ndopita

Update to this - at the time this was posted you were only able to buy the shrouds, but now you are able to buy kits that also include the fans and the cooler. I also do not recommend buying the transmission cooler from ebay as there is a high chance that it is a Chinese knockoff, instead I would purchase it from Oregon Performance Transmission. Lastly, the shrouds/kits are also now available directly from the KAN-Made Products website and there is no added sales tax like ebay automatically adds in.

https://kanmadeproducts.myshopify.com/

https://www.oregonperformancetransmi...LNG-47391.html

On the way, just put a tru cool in my 73

[MikeB]

Thanks for the links!

[PowerdbyChevy79]

This is a great setup... Trans temp should stay way below 200.. and this cooler should definitely do that..