Matthew

...Anybody done this? What brand of cooler do you recommend and how tough is it to install? I would probably need help with this, I am in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas...

Blu

iTrader: (63)

Look here

I have the 130-70264 and it has no fittment issues. Its installed in the bottom right corner of the radiator.

Blu

iTrader: (63)

you will also need an extra 3' of tranny hose which the kit doesn't provide.

woosh

I plan to do this, not as a performance but more as a preventitive mod.

The tranny coolers I've seen from the posts are
hayden 404, 405
B&M 268 and 264

The B&M seem to be the better of the brands because they maintain thermal viscosity.

I've seen most people with the 19000 gvw unit #268 and a couple of them said they should've got the 24000 gvw #264 unit

http://www.bmracing.com/products/acc...perCooler.html

the best price was linked to me by PCGuru2k (thanx) from jegs.
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...28&prmenbr=361

turbo dreams
woosh

Matthew

...thanks guys. I have done a full flush n' fill with Mobil 1 ATF, would I need additional tranny fluid in order to do this add? How long did it take you guys to do, and are the included instructions any good?

soopermax02

I used less than a quart for my B&M #264, which I purchased from www.jegs.com for $49.

Be sure to check the fluid level after the car is warmed up, and while the car is running; otherwise the fluid will drain from the cooler back into the pan giving you a false reading. Blu and I have the same cooler; it's extremely well built and quite tough. It also features a built in bypass valve that passes cold fluid straight through.

I spent about 1.5 hours installing mine, but it should take less for you. I spent about 45 minutes just figuring out which line was the return line (it's the top one on the tranny, if I'm not mistaken) and the best place to put it (which I think is on the driver's side in the lower valance, bolted to the frame on the bottom and bracketed on the top with the supplied brackets).

http://www.wolfish.net/maxima/DCP_0012.JPG
http://www.wolfish.net/maxima/DCP_0007.JPG

[You can barely see it the lower valence, can you? squint and look hard to the right of my license plate]

[maxi-overdose]

iTrader: (3)

tranny cooler is highly recommanded and it will cools down the ATF when traveling high speed. But, at low speed...it doesnt do much and.

At speed of 65+ mph, my ATF reading is usually 150. In stop & go traffic @ 30mph....it boils up to 170 - 180. boosting on a uphill from 2nd - 3rd - 4th rocks my ATF temp to 210....but once I got her running at 80mph....it cools down to 160.

if u decided to do tranny work....buy a tranny pan gasket and clean ur tranny pan to. you will see how much wear u have on the tranny pan. takes about 2 hour.

Matthew

...Just (finally) bought this B&M #264 today, tranny was fine during the winter because my tranny was getting plenty of cool air but Dallas is heating up for summer and I am getting rougher shifts again. Is the 3' of hose a certain size that I should be looking for? Also is this stuff readily available from places like AutoZone / Pep Boys??? Thanks for the help on this, I am hoping this cooler along with the synthetic tranny fluid I already have will help quite a bit...

Blu

iTrader: (63)

Its been so long i can't even remember the size. I know I picked it up at Autozone though. It will be the same size that comes with the B&M kit.

optimus1

Are these readings before cooler install? Are you using syn or dino fluid? Where is the tranny fluid temp sensor installed on yours?

just trying to get more complete and helpful info, Thanks ...

foodmanry

iTrader: (15)

The hardest part of installing the cooler is figuring out how to route the lines. There are directions with the B&M kit, but they are basic. I just installed a cooler on my 2k GLE. I put the cooler in front of the condenser so it receives the full amount of air. I routed the line from the OEM coller return through the top fo the front bumper frame. There is a small hole that barely fits the hose right next to the top of the radiator. The return line from the B&M coller to the tranny I ran that through the bottom just above the front bumper frame next to the radiator, another small hole just big enough for it. I do have a concern for rubbing and chaffing of the hose, but I will protect that by insulating with extra line around the outside. You will definitely need another 3 feet of hose. It's best to cut it longer than you think you need. You can always cut it down if need be.

There is a installation guide for a tranny cooler on the maxima.org site under shop. It's on a 99, but that's pretty much the same for a 2k2 and 2k3. That's what I followed to do my install. It points out the feed and return lines from the tranny.