Too Cool for School

[Zeta]

Well, we'll see. But I spent some time trying to make the driving light cutouts in the Aluminess bumper do something besides holding the lights I never--read never ever--used. I made some brackets that hold a transmission cooler w/fan in place of the lights:


By replacing the stock cooler with two smaller ones I figure I've increased the overall transmission cooler area by 33%, but now have electric fans I can activate when the trans temp goes up off-road. I'm using the old PIAA wiring to control the fans:


The hypothesis behind this is getting the transmission cooler out from in front of the condensor opens much real estate in front of the radiator and intercooler so, hopefully, it'll run a bit cooler in the summer.

Before:


After:


Still have to make a wedge of aluminum that will screw to the bumper to hide the little corner of the cooler that is visible below the bumper. It's not vulnerable, just doesn't look great.



Z

[BroncoHauler]

Great idea. Be sure to post some results.


Herb

[twogone]

Umm, one stupid question... were you having temp problems before?

I run up/down a lot of hills, w/ associated shifting, and currently have no way of knowing my tranny temp. Bumper project currently on the drawing board could incorporate your great idea.

[twogone]

oh, and by the way...

[Zeta]

Originally Posted by twogone

Umm, one stupid question... were you having temp problems before?

Hardly stupid. On hot days in low range--or on a long grade at highway speeds--I'll see ECT pushing 230F and trans over 210F. I also bought a 16' trailer and everything went up dramatically. I'm working on a 3x20" scoop that will mount under the bumper and direct air up into the lower half of the radiator. Our bumpers block off half the rad.

Z

[Vegasrandall]

That mesh rock guard has to be blocking a lot of air. A bigger mesh size would pass a lot more air and would not tend to get clogged up with mud.

Also we killed most of the bats when I lived in barstow.

[SheepShagger]

Looks like a great idea, love to see how it pans out. Is there anything behind the cooler to stop stones thrown off the wheel ruining it? I get so much crap caught in the back of my bumper from stuff slung off the tire it amazes me.

[Zeta]

Originally Posted by SheepShagger

Looks like a great idea, love to see how it pans out. Is there anything behind the cooler to stop stones thrown off the wheel ruining it? I get so much crap caught in the back of my bumper from stuff slung off the tire it amazes me.

May have to address that.




http://www.tomsinclair.net

[carringb]

Originally Posted by SheepShagger

Looks like a great idea, love to see how it pans out. Is there anything behind the cooler to stop stones thrown off the wheel ruining it? I get so much crap caught in the back of my bumper from stuff slung off the tire it amazes me.

One of my driving lights got taken out from behind. My sister ran over a dog (~70 pounds) in the highway, and it it wrapped around the tire and was thrown at the light from behind.

[Zeta]

My sister never drives the van.

Z


http://www.tomsinclair.net