Trans Radiator mounting

[Chaz]

I have been wanting to post these pix for awhile. (sorry, I think they may be kinda big)
When Dallas was here, he said that the oil/water heat transfer unit that I had was rather small and that i should probably add a radiator. He knew of a guy with just such a critter and i bought it from him.
Unfortunately, It was a little bigger than I could fit in so I cut it down. Here are a couple pix of where I put it. (I got a little creative ) I still need to put louvers in the door and a fan on it but I figure even without a fan on it, it should cool better than what it had. I plan on pulling the air towards the door so as to not counteract the pushing of the actual radiator fan. BUT, where it's at, (on the other side of a small bulkhead) It may not make any difference.
By the way, this is a GREAT spot for yet another small bay for tools or whatnot. After I opened it up, I almost hated to put the radiator there. This is in my 4108. I would "guess" 4107's would have the same spot, but i don't know. (it was where the original "slide" for the "kids" was located.   




  Just thought it was about time I contributed!! 

   Chaz

[TomC]

Nice installation-you could add an electric fan easily if needed-but natural ciruclation going down the road will work.  The only concern is that when the transmission is working the hardest creating the most amount of heat is climbing a long hill-hence the electric fan will come in handy.  Good Luck, TomC

[Paso One]

Nice work Chaz  ( as if I should be surprised )   What method did you use to cut rhe metal for the door.

[Chaz]

Thanx Tom. I think a fan is in order one of these (warm) days. 
  By the way, I retained to original heat exchanger. I thought it's possible that it "could" help in cooloing the motor also. But I did just have the radiator rodded out, etc. I should be good there also.

Paso,
  I used a "body saw" I use for cutting sheet metal on the Hot Rod work I do. You can get cheap ones at auto parts stores or HF. They are little in-line air saws and do a great job. When cutting aluminum, use WD-40 in front of it and the blade won't clog. I also used SS hinges.
  Thanx for the nice compliment,
    Chaz

[Don4107]

Nice work. 

One day I was laying on my back looking into the same area on my 4107.  There is a newer looking plywood box hanging from the floor.   Went inside to be sure there was not an opening to it. Nope. None from the wheel well either.  Don't know what the PO might have had in mind.  Floor safe?  Who knows. 

Anyway, I like your use if the space.

Don 4107

[Dallas]

The pictures don't do the installation justice.

I've seen it in person and it's a work of art, considering the former owner of the heat exchanger kind of mis-measured a bit, and Chaz had to cut it down in order for it to fit.

Chaz, show some pictures of the back side of it too.. it's really impressive.

I would almost bet that if you installed an air dam in front of the vent that is yet to be installed, you'll see  big drop in transmission temps, even without an electric fan.

And yes it is a good thing you left the original heat exchanger in... that works two ways, it not only helps cool the transmission, but also lets engine heat warm it to operating temperature much more quickly.

One more thing... if you have some good batteries and plug in the block heater for a bit, the old girl will fire right off. Even if she's cold, use the heat soak method of starting and she'll fire right up.
We fired up our old 6-71 in +4°F temps with no block heater and we were running the fuel we got in Cinci in August. You won't have a problem with gelling until it gets a bit colder.

Dallas

[Chaz]

Don,
That would be a DANDY spot for a safe!!! (now that everyone knows about it!  LOL) There really is a nice amount of space there for the using. And it's not hard to do. Just get the saw I mentioned, mark your lines (radiased corners for less chance of a crack developing), cut the side where the hinge will mount first, manicure that cut to fit your hinge, drill your holes, mount the hinge tight and cut the rest of the way around. It will fit perfect that way.

Dallas,
  Thanx. Fortunately, that sort of stuff is what I know how to do and have the tools for. But I think most of us "crazies" (we about have to be) can do it pretty easy.
  My batteries are.... shall we say.... lacking a bit. Looks like come spring I will be getting a new pair................ I guess. (Unless I can rescue them somehow) I think the regulator issue may have hurt them. But it's good to know that she could still fire up. I was mostly concerned with the fuel in the line and tank. But if you think it's ok, I'll give her a shot. But, it's going to have to warm up a bit for me too!!!  Hope you guys are warm!!

  Thanx guys,
     Chaz

[Sojourner]

Great job!

Very interesting how you find place to install it.

BTW...IYDKT (If you didn't know this) When install fan on radiator...always thrive to have fan pulling air through instead of pushing. Because expanded (heated) air is easier for fan to pull to create vacuum than to compress cool air into expander or restrict-or. 

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald

[johns4104s]

Nice installation,

Gerald, thats good infomation to have, Thanks

John

[RJ]

Chaz -

Nice work - hinged access door looks "factory!"   

As Dallas suggested, how about a few pics of the back side of the cooler, plus from inside the transmission access door right behind, so one can see how you routed the oil lines.

Agree with Gerald - small automotive electric radiator fan on back side of cooler pulling air thru will work very well.  Especially if on a thermostat so you don't have to think about it.

Might also consider using SS deck vents from the marine industry to vent the compartment.  Saw similar on a 4107 down in Quartzsite a couple weekends ago, mounted on the transmission access door.  Pic below is one from the West Marine catalog.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Chaz]

Thanx RJ. I have access to a louver press so I will go that route. (it's my Hot Rod roots  )
I have a fan planned, and bought for it, but am in no hurry to install it while it's so cold. Plus, it probably wouldn't even be necessary when it is so cold.    I know that the radiator is doing allot better at cooling than what I had to start with anyway. But come summer, I will be wiring it in with a thermostat just before the oil/water exchanger.
I'll get some pix of what you ask when I get a chance. We just got 5" of snow today and getting freezing rain this evening and snow the rest of the week. But I will be sure and get them for ya. But so you have some idea...... I have it suspended from the top with aluminum angle and the rubber grommets that came with it as well as supporting it from the bottom with the same. I had high pressure hoses made at the local NAPA.
  Dallas is too kind!! I hope you don't have high expectations as to this being "all that and a bag of chips". It's just pretty straight forward and functional. Do you know if the earlier model GM's have that space?? It really is a nice space.
Thanx again!!
    Chaz