Delta VS
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Has anyone ever torn/blown apart an old radiator to see what the trans cooler in there actually consists of? If so, did you happen to take pics? Or seen any pics of this? Thanks!
Transmission cooler inside radiator
- Thread starter Delta VS
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Well, I have a dead toyorad that I just removed (as in a couple of days ago) and still have. If you need pics I guess I can go at it and pull the bottom tank assembly... Figure it out soon or it'll be gone tomorrow.
cheers,
george.
cheers,
george.
- Joined
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No worries, I'll rip into it this weekend and see what's in there. Likely just a pipe that runs along the bottom tank from inlet to outlet. Certainly doesn't look like it goes into any of the actual radiator finned area. Probably near useless 
cheers,
george.
cheers,
george.
Delta VS
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- Thread starter
- #5
agreedNo worries, I'll rip into it this weekend and see what's in there. Likely just a pipe that runs along the bottom tank from inlet to outlet. Certainly doesn't look like it goes into any of the actual radiator finned area. Probably near useless
cheers,
george.
I’m not much help except to verify It is a nice finned heat exchanger. I tore a radiator apart in 2017 and the transmission’s heat exchanger looked like tomh’s image above. I had it in the scrap pile for two years and threw it out about six months ago. :-( wish I had held onto it a little longer.
Hi, Can’t believe Toyota did it poorly, probably should have been bigger for hot weather areas .Mike
It's a nice heat exchanger. Funny thing is that it mostly acts as a heater, to bring the ATF up to operating temp quickly and stabilize it. There's a separate cooler in front of the A/C condenser as well. Transmission temp is not a common issue on 80's.
^^^^
Trans shifting to OD is governed by the coolant temp (reaching 130°F) not the transmission fluid. Common mistake.
Delta VS
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- Thread starter
- #16
Got one of the el cheapo hamazon radiators, doesn't have the (apparently) trans heater, so looking to see what it would take to add one. Don't think it would be a product or anything. Ron Davis has that pretty much on lockdown. Might be an "upgrade service" we'd offer or something, Have to see if there is something similar to the stock setup available in aluminum though, and go from there. Would be nice to have it just have the AN fittings for Joey's hoses.Alright @Delta VS ... What ya experimenting with?
While you’re working on fluid coolers, how about some brackets to mount small fluidyne coolers with fans behind your bumper and a sandwich plate and appropriately sized hoses with AN fittings? Motor oil needs better cooling than the factory setup once forced induction gets involved.
Can do, I’ll find a suitable size one and send it up.
I am sure on the roof would cool better, but a self contained cooler with a fan will still work well behind the bumper...have done it with trans coolers before and you can see trans temps drop 20 degrees when the fan is turned on. I want to stay away from the front as I don’t want another unit in front of my condenser, especially one carrying hot motor oil.
Yes mine was a flat plate brass cooler and it held 3oz IIRC. I used in building a hot water shower that worked excellent. The main reason for the coolers is to put heat into the trans quicker. Your trans will not go into OD until it reaches Toyota’s operating temp.