Upgrade OEM Transmission Cooler

[TheAutumnWind]

Does the towing package option offer a bigger cooler??? Why not just get a towing package cooler, and GM parts ?

the aftermarket one is better

 

[Smokymance]

and bigger

 

[TheAutumnWind]

and bigger

Surprised that you didn't black yours out. Is it noticable behind the grille?

 

[Smokymance]

It is a bit but enough that I don't mind it. Actually kinda like that it shows a bit and I perfectly centered it so looks kinda bad ass. Most people think it's an intercooler.

 

[the blur]

Is it the factory hoses? or you need to modify the hoses & fittings ?

 

[TheAutumnWind]

It is a bit but enough that I don't mind it. Actually kinda like that it shows a bit and I perfectly centered it so looks kinda bad ass. Most people think it's an intercooler.

Ah thats cool. Showin it off.

Mine is not perfectly centered (I used a cheaper trans cooler) so it doesn't look as nice as yours, but its black so you wouldn't know it was there anyways.

 

[Smokymance]

Yeah that's what I have on my jeep and it blends right in.

what you have to do is technically "spread" the factory lines appart because new cooler is wider. U dremel off the plastic piece where they stick thru so they can be spread appart and fit them into the new cooler.

 

[P71toZ71]

That kit is only for the nbs right?

NBS and NNBS.

If you look closely at the OP's pictures, you can see that the factory horizontal brace is not bolted on. I believe GM changed to welds during the 2009 model year. The Tru-Cool install kit should still work, but you'll have to grind, drill, and maybe tap the holes for the new brace to bolt on.

Does the towing package option offer a bigger cooler??? Why not just get a towing package cooler, and GM parts ?

If you don't want to mess with hard lines, not having the factory transmission cooler makes an install easier, in my opinion. Just get the Derale 13035 adapter and use quality hoses and hose clamps.



To add to the temperatures everyone else posted, my temp without a cooler was always 100 degrees higher than the ambient air temp (whether moving or stopped). I've had this vehicle in ambient temps from the low teens to just under 120 degrees, and that always held true. I have driven in mostly low humidity areas.


After adding a Derale 13403 cooler (different model than OP), my temps would be 70-75 degrees over ambient while moving or with the radiator fans on. While stopped with no radiator fans on, the temps would rise to 80-85 degrees above ambient.

Top is before; bottom is after:

Unfortunately, Derale rates my cooler in GVW and rates the OP's cooler in BTUs, so it isn't easy to make a direct comparison. Stacked plate is supposed to be better than plate and fin, but the different dimensions come into play as well.

 

[Smokymance]

Holly outside temps!!! Lol. We never get those here in MI. At about 90 outside my Trans chillin at a max of 145* towing in middle of traffic. Never gets hotter here so can't tell u how hot it gets. Never seen Trans temp over 155.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

If you look closely at the OP's pictures, you can see that the factory horizontal brace is not bolted on. I believe GM changed to welds during the 2009 model year. The Tru-Cool install kit should still work, but you'll have to grind, drill, and maybe tap the holes for the new brace to bolt on.





If you don't want to mess with hard lines, not having the factory transmission cooler makes an install easier, in my opinion. Just get the Derale 13035 adapter and use quality hoses and hose clamps.



To add to the temperatures everyone else posted, my temp without a cooler was always 100 degrees higher than the ambient air temp (whether moving or stopped). I've had this vehicle in ambient temps from the low teens to just under 120 degrees, and that always held true. I have driven in mostly low humidity areas.


After adding a Derale 13403 cooler (different model than OP), my temps would be 70-75 degrees over ambient while moving or with the radiator fans on. While stopped with no radiator fans on, the temps would rise to 80-85 degrees above ambient.

Top is before; bottom is after:


Unfortunately, Derale rates my cooler in GVW and rates the OP's cooler in BTUs, so it isn't easy to make a direct comparison. Stacked plate is supposed to be better than plate and fin, but the different dimensions come into play as well.

Good lookin cooler. It appears to have made a huge reduction in temps!

I've got a smaller hayden 679 (11x12x3/4" thick stacked plate) in mine, in line with the radiator. Hottest that I have ever seen mine was 165* in 100+ degree weather. It used to get up around 200.

I'm thinking about bypassing my radiator.

 

[Vermtown]

After towing a 24ft pontoon the past couple weekends my trans temp got up to 220 and it was only in the 80's outside. drove the highway for a while yesterday with 4 adults in the 90's and high humidity and it got to 205! Completely unacceptable. Ordered the OP's setup just now. And it's cheaper now too

 

[Smokymance]

40k tru cool Trans cooler is only 138$ these days. Two fittings and it's almost s direct swap

 

[08grey]

Got her in today.

 

[Smokymance]

clean install, How did that compare to size of the stocker?

 

[TheAutumnWind]

clean install, How did that compare to size of the stocker?

My nbs stocker was 4"x12" roughly iirc. My cheapo Hayden 679 is roughly 12"x12".

That derale 13403 appears to be 18"x8"?

The tru cool 40k is bigger

 

[08HoeCD]

This thread is a must-read and represents a must-do.

 

[08grey]

clean install, How did that compare to size of the stocker?

Stock is like half the size more or less. Install was easy peezy. Definitely a good buy.

 

[Vermtown]

Stock is like half the size more or less. Install was easy peezy. Definitely a good buy.

Good to hear, I'll be on it this weekend

 

[BrandonH13]

I don't have a factory cooler and live in Kansas. We have temp from below 0 in the winter to around 100 in the summer. I was going to get the tru-cool 40 but didn't know if I needed the bypass? The wife drives it and in the winter she will drive maybe 2 miles to take the kids to school.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

I don't have a factory cooler and live in Kansas. We have temp from below 0 in the winter to around 100 in the summer. I was going to get the tru-cool 40 but didn't know if I needed the bypass? The wife drives it and in the winter she will drive maybe 2 miles to take the kids to school.

Below 0 temps? Yeah id spend the little bit more for the thermal bypass.