Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 21:40:13 -0800
Reply-To: Philip Zimmerman <philzimm1@OBERON.ARK.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Philip Zimmerman <philzimm1@OBERON.ARK.COM>
Subject: '87 Vanagon GL ATF Cooler
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
-----Original Message-----
alancshearer
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 9:31 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: '87 Vanagon GL ATF Cooler
Alan wrote in part:
I want to replace the original cooler with an external aftermarket unit
which will eliminate the possibility of mixing coolant and ATF. I'm =
thinking if it's too difficult to remove the factory unit, maybe I
could just =
attach the aftermarket unit to the factory ATF unit.
I will appreciate constructive input from anyone who has actually dealt
=
with this problem. I am particularly interested in learning how to
remove the
defective ATF cooler. I also want to know what kind of aftermarket =
coolers are being used. Thanks.
---------------
Hi Alan,
Ken W's post covered the R&R part of your questions well and offered
good solid advice for replacing your leaking unit with a new OEM unit.
Sticker-Shock for a new cooler is to be expected... geeze are those OEM
things expensive!
Your questions on replacing an OEM Cooler with an After-Market cooler
are interesting ones. I have collected most of the parts I need to
undertake this mod. Awaiting the arrival of Spring (warmer weather) to
begin the installation. I assume in the following we are taking about a
2.1l engine with an AT.
The air to air "external" coolers you ask about will work somewhat Ok.
Small Car performance sells them for the Subie Conversions they do on
Vans with AT's. They offer a kit that supplies most of the needed
parts. No mounting hardware for the cooler though. Price is attractive
but the two owners of Vans with these installed I have talked to are
not satisfied with the cooling the AT receives from this type of
cooler. This said, The AC Vanagons with AT's did not have any type of
Cooler installed.
Small Car link:
http://www.smallcar.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?
Screen=PROD&Store_Code=S&Product_Code=TCK&Category_Code=V
My issue with the Air to Air coolers is they don't extract heat from
the ATF effectively, especially at low speeds. When you are stuck in
traffic or struggling up a long steep grade on a hot day. Two
conditions that really heat-up an AT.
Getting sufficient airflow to this type of cooler on a Vanagon is
difficult at best IMHO. Mounting a cooler up front with the radiator is
possible but, the AT pump would die trying to pump the ATF through this
long run of hose. Adding an Auxiliary Fan to a Cooler is possible. A
number of self-contained Coolers are made like this. Fitting one,
somewhere under the Van will be a difficult undertaking. The cooler is
then vulnerable and exposed to significant damage from road debris.
Additional electrics and an ATF thermostat would be required. More $$
and installation problems to solve along they way. A compromise of
sorts. Separate the ATF from the Engine Coolant but at the cost of
dumping all your ATF on the road!
The type of Cooler I settled on was a fluid to fluid type. Plumbs into
the Van's cooling system.
On the return line from the Radiator, between the Thermostat-Housing
and the end of the Plastic return-line. Omits two expensive hoses from
the cooling system and supplies the coolest-coolant to the Cooler!
Harder to put into words than to show in a drawing. P-mail me if this
interests you Alan.
Link:http://www.bakerprecision.com/aqp10.htm
or
Link:http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/mocal3.htm
I bought a used one off e-Bay for ~$50.
regards
Phil Z.
Campbell River, BC
