Chevy & GMC Vans

kings-x59 wrote:words to the wise about the separation from the condensor. I just blocked mine out another inch to get it further away from the condensor. Aside from damage, it will transfer heat into the condensor reducing the efficiency of the system.
It made a difference, I just road tested it for 188 miles in the Texas heat.

kings-x59 wrote:words to the wise about the separation from the condensor. I just blocked mine out another inch to get it further away from the condensor. Aside from damage, it will transfer heat into the condensor reducing the efficiency of the system.
It made a difference, I just road tested it for 188 miles in the Texas heat.

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:Tranny temperature gauge installation. (these pics are from the SPB but the 03 was done the same way)

Located the test port on the 4L60E. It is located on the driver side to the front of the gear shift electrical connection.





Now remove the 1/8" NPT plug and screw in the brass sensor. DO NOT use Teflon tape as you may not have a ground connection. The sensor is more or less reading the case temperature but it gives a great idea on what the temps are doing. Run the sensor wire up to where ever you are going to mount your gauge. I mounted my Autometer gauge in a pod on the A-pillar.



Now for some aux cooler tests. The test was done on the 2003 AWD and was done when we drove it to trade in on our truck. The tranny was in perfect shape...new Amsoil synthetic fluid and filter, Transgo HD-2 shift kit and Corvette servo. There was NO slip in the tranny!!!! The day was in the mid 70's and wasn't too humid out. With the aux tranny cooler installed the tranny temp would never get above about 150 - 165 no matter where we drove or how fast. This is without towing. The day we traded the van in, I removed the aux cooler and on the drive to get the truck, the tranny easily reached the 180 degree mark within about 10 miles of driving. This was from a cold start! The final temp once we arrived at the dealer (40 mile drive, mostly interstate) was around the coolant temp of 195! This is a 30 to 45 degree difference with just the aux cooler plumbed after the stock cooler. No wonder we would see 210 towing our camper and that was babying it. I can't even imagine how hot the tranny would get with no aux cooler! My final suggestion for long tranny life is synthetic fluid and a massive tranny cooler!

batmo wrote:160??

I have the OEM radiator heat exchanger, the optional towing package aux. cooler AND a Perma-Cooler mounted underneath next to the transmission (700R4) WITH electric fan and mine runs at 180deg in any weather over 60deg, hits 200 in stop/go traffic routinely and goes upto 220 when trailering.

I removed the radiator heat exchanger from the loop when I first installed the Perma-Cool but the first winter after it never seemed to warm up and I considered it would help maintain a more consistant temp and therfore less metal expansion and contractions which seems like would lead to more wear in the long run, I hooked it back up thru the radiator.

I run Mobil-1 ATF exclusively and also have an external spin-on oil filter adaptor that has a temprature gauge sendor built-in that I got from Summit Racing.

I just cant seem to get this trans to run any cooler than 180 except in cold weather...

Its been over 5 years since I built/installed this trans so Im pretty sure its OK I also added the HD pump, extra clutch discs, corvette servo, kevlar band, and 3/4 kick-down valve along with all a few other tweeks found in old HotRod mags related to the 700R4s..

Ive seen it go as high as 250deg when trailering a car thru the mountains but that was when I had the radiator out of the loop.

mabey I should try a different gauge and/or sender? I like the idea of having two senders...

if nothing else I know ive got at least twice the fluid flowing thru it than stock with all the lines and stuff..