Derale transmission cooler mounting

[DanWheeler]

I'm installing a Derale stacked plate cooler w/ fan for my 4R70W conversion and have a few questions about the best way to mount/install it.

I believe the stock configuration for that cooler/fan setup is a puller of course I can change that with wiring but I'm wondering if pull is the most efficient direction?

I know if I leave it as a puller fan and I put it on my passenger wheel well I'm just going to pull heat into the engine compartment. I've seen a few people change it to a pusher and cut some holes in the fender and push it straight down but with all the mud and water we have here in the PNW I dont think thats a great idea.

anyone have any alternatives? How about mounting it upside down somehow straddling the fender-well and the firewall pushing the air down?

factory configuration is usually in front of the radiator right? any disadvantages to this besides blocking air to the radiator? Not sure if it would fit there.

thanks,
dan

 

[jdcone]

Leave at least 1" between the radiator and tranny cooler, just like the AC condensors.

 

[ponyboy156]

I just picked up a derale cooler(HUGE) and am gonna mount it in the configuration stated in the new bronco driver magazine article titled "Automatic Transmission Upgrades That Make Sense". Cool article, you should check it out. They show the aftermarket cooler mounted after the radiator, and in front of a secondary filter... but it seems to me that your right and factory coolers were in front of the radiator. Im just gonna throw it up on the wheel well and figure its already gonna be way better than any stock type setup. I was thinking about kicking up one side of the cooler(side towards the back of the wheel well) and trying to suck a littler cooler air from between the firewall and wheel well.... but that just might suck up hot header air.%) I thought about cutting a vent hole in the fender apron and making a shroud that could suck air from that big empty space in the fender... that should be a little cooler.

 

[KyleQ]

According to Derale you can mount it anywhere, as in on flat surface as the bracketry is designed to be mounted flush wherever it fits. I've got one of their atomic coolers to cool my full hydro steering that I am going to mount from the edge of the drivers side wheel well to the core support - there is alot of room there. Transmission cooler is getting the same treatment, but will be flush mounted on the wheel well with the possibility of some holes drilled in the fender well with a spaced plate under the holes for the air to flow, but to direct the debris from the cooler.

 

[behemoth]

I mounted mine under the passenger side floor boards between the rocker and the frame straight shot out of the transmission. It has worked fine here for 5 years now.

 

[DanWheeler]

I mounted mine under the passenger side floor boards between the rocker and the frame straight shot out of the transmission. It has worked fine here for 5 years now.

ah, San Diego - do you guys even get mud or rocks there? If I mounted a fan on the underside of my truck I think it would last about half a day before it got completely clogged with mud or ripped off by a log or rock.

I think it definitely needs to go in the engine compartment, I just want to try to avoid putting more heat into that area.

I was thinking about putting it on the fender/wheel well and pushing the air downward towards the tire but to do that I have to cut a hole in the fender which will allow the tires to sling mud up into the exposed face of the cooler. I might still do that but put a piece of sheet metal in the wheel well 2" below the new hole to block the mud but still allow air to escape from the cooler.

the problem with that is if I ever get my front articulation figured out, I might rip that plate out or damage it if I stuff a tire into the wheel well.

 

[behemoth]

Well Yes there is occasionally mud here and there are trails with rocks on them. I have played in the mud and I guess where I have it is out of the mud path as it did not have any problems with what it got. Rocks I have been more concerned with but with the 1/4' rock ski and the frame on the other side the chances to me pretty slim that I would hit it.

I had thought about placing it over the passenger inner fender to the rear open space above the heater hose connections. I wanted to get as much heat out of the engine compartment as possible and the under the floorboards has worked well so far.

I hear you though the mud I see here is nothing like the clay/gumbo stuff of other areas. I am more concerned with rocks coming off the tire than the other things.