the wife and I are going wrench crazy this weekend, i grabbed a tranny cooler (approx 3" x 12") off a ford pickup (yuk) I live in L.A. and this is for a 69 dart daily driver with an a-745 with i think about 140k on the clock but that may not be right and supposedly there was a rebuild for the tranny within the last year. Is there anything i should know or do (besides scratching off the ford symbol). is this a bad idea for any reason. i was planning on routing it seperatly through the cooler and plugging the radiator

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anything worth doing is worth re-doing, again and again and again...........

I don't really see a problem with this on an automatic, although the A-745 is a 3 speed manual transmission (dubbed "the peanut box" by some)... you're hooking up the tranny cooler lines on a 3 speed automatic right ?!(A-904?)

just making sure,

-D.Idiot

To simplify D.I.'s statement, Manual transmissions don't need coolers and don't actually have lines to connect them to. The just don't generate heat like an automatic and have a much higher tolerance to heat as well.

Automatics work best within a tempurature range. Running thru the radiator speeds transmission warm up in colder climates, but may not be needed where you live. (but it is in Pittsburgh)

Extra transmission cooling is usually not needed unless you're towing. Otherwise the factory cooling is fine (at least on newer models). I would be careful that you didn't do a who lot of unneeded modifications with no noticable improvement. Your time might be better spent in changing the transmission fluid/ filter, adjusting the bands and possibly flushing/refilling the cooling system if it's been neglected.

There ARE cases where a cooler is helpful, but it shouldn't be required on a typical system.

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1980 Aspen 225 super six

good advise, it is a three speed auto, i was guessing from a quick glance at the service manual. i wanted to replace the lines so this seemed like an improvement. I won't be towing ( i have a 71 3/4 ton chevy for that) but it is a daily driver and does alot of around town and L.A. freeway which if you are'nt familiar has stop lights at the on ramps and rediculous stop short then speed up fast traffic. My wife is easy on her but driving around here is real tough no matter how good you are. This is definitly way low on the priority list after tuning and lubing
its sad, it will be 72 degrees out, no wind, rain, or even dust and you will see some dumbass flipped over and burning across two lanes. most of the accidents are people driving really really stupid. and I am saying this after growing up in Boston

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anything worth doing is worth re-doing, again and again and again...........