I finally got this done!
It isn't plumbed in yet. I need to remove the other cooler currently in use (like this one: https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-...ower-steering-cooler-install.html#post4368547) and run some new oil/heat resistant 3/8" hose, but the hard part is done.
I bought the auxilliary transmission cooler from a parted out truck (thanks Gary!) complete with brackets. After some playing around and a lot of head scratching I managed to figure out how to reuse three of the four brackets to mount the cooler to the rad supports. I wanted to avoid attaching it to the condenser to make future A/C work easier and to minimize the vibrations and stress on a somewhat fragile part.
The lower brackets were the easiest to figure out. I used the big long bracket that holds the lower outer side of the OEM ATF cooler to the left rad support to do the same thing on the opposite side (the lower outer mount of the new PS cooler). I had to drill a hole in the right rad support which was tricky without removing the bumper but not impossible.
Next up was the inner lower mount. I used the same mount as the ATF cooler uses for that position, but I ground off the nut and some of the bracket so it fit between the centre rad support and the OEM cooler mount.
Here is the mount
And here it is in place. The centre bolt passes through the same hole of the same brackets, I just modified the new one to fit it there.
Now to the top. This was the trickiest part, but after some more head scratching (arguably one of the most fun parts of doing a mod) I figured out a solution. I took what was originally the outer upper mount, did some grinding and some bending and voila!
I drilled a 3/8" hole in the centre rad support just below the rectangle where the grill clips on and used a washer and a spacer tube to line up the bracket.
I didn't do a fourth mount as it would have taken some extra bracketry, but the cooler is not moving. I haven't plumbed it in yet but I was thinking of temporarily installing a temperature sender in the line coming out of the steering gearbox and wiring it into my transmission temperature gauge with a switch just to get an idea of the fluid temperatures in the steering system. I may also just get a cheap IR temperature gun and compare the temperature to the auxilliary ATF cooler or to the radiator instead.
It isn't plumbed in yet. I need to remove the other cooler currently in use (like this one: https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-...ower-steering-cooler-install.html#post4368547) and run some new oil/heat resistant 3/8" hose, but the hard part is done.
I bought the auxilliary transmission cooler from a parted out truck (thanks Gary!) complete with brackets. After some playing around and a lot of head scratching I managed to figure out how to reuse three of the four brackets to mount the cooler to the rad supports. I wanted to avoid attaching it to the condenser to make future A/C work easier and to minimize the vibrations and stress on a somewhat fragile part.
The lower brackets were the easiest to figure out. I used the big long bracket that holds the lower outer side of the OEM ATF cooler to the left rad support to do the same thing on the opposite side (the lower outer mount of the new PS cooler). I had to drill a hole in the right rad support which was tricky without removing the bumper but not impossible.
Next up was the inner lower mount. I used the same mount as the ATF cooler uses for that position, but I ground off the nut and some of the bracket so it fit between the centre rad support and the OEM cooler mount.
Here is the mount
And here it is in place. The centre bolt passes through the same hole of the same brackets, I just modified the new one to fit it there.
Now to the top. This was the trickiest part, but after some more head scratching (arguably one of the most fun parts of doing a mod) I figured out a solution. I took what was originally the outer upper mount, did some grinding and some bending and voila!
I drilled a 3/8" hole in the centre rad support just below the rectangle where the grill clips on and used a washer and a spacer tube to line up the bracket.
I didn't do a fourth mount as it would have taken some extra bracketry, but the cooler is not moving. I haven't plumbed it in yet but I was thinking of temporarily installing a temperature sender in the line coming out of the steering gearbox and wiring it into my transmission temperature gauge with a switch just to get an idea of the fluid temperatures in the steering system. I may also just get a cheap IR temperature gun and compare the temperature to the auxilliary ATF cooler or to the radiator instead.
). So far around town the PS cooler doesn't get as hot as the transmission cooler. Not surprising considering I'm only steering 285s on pavement, usually while rolling (low stress situation for the gearbox). I'll be curious to compare temperatures if I ever get this thing on to some dirt!
