My 6.0 Trans Cooler install

ClassicIDI · Apr 12, 2012

Hey guys just picked up a Clean 97 F250 With a smoked transmission so I had the tranny built locally and decided to upgrade the cooler lines to the super duty 3/8 lines and install a 6.0 trans cooler. In order to install the Super Duty cooler lines you have to change the fittings on the trans to accept the bigger lines which I had my trans guy do during the rebuild. The Super Duty lines require just a slight bend by the starter but they really go on pretty easy. The stock line mount at the front of the engine also works with the bigger lines.

Here is the stock Cooler setup

Here is the stock external cooler vers the 6.0 cooler

I decided to mount it out front but there is a tab on the back side of the header panel I had to cut off to get it in there.

Couple pics of the tab

And tab is now gone

Here is my final mounting position of the cooler

I used 3/8 compression Fittings on the cooler lines from the trans that then adapted to a female NPT pipe thread. I got Fittings that went from male NPT pipe to a push-lock and then used 1/2 push-lock hose up to the cooler. I also did away with the internal radiator trans cooler. I hate not knowing if my radiator is about to leak into the trans cooler and destroy my new transmission. I have this same cooler on my E99 which didn't even come with the internal radiator cooler from the factory. This cooler by itself on my 99 keeps my trans at 160 or less no matter what I tow or how hard I push it.

How I routed/protected the lines through the radiator support. I slide 3/4 inch heater hose over the push-lock hose to prevent cuts and chafing where it goes through the radiator support.

Here is how I secured the lines up front

And just a couple pics of the rest of the project

Decided now was a good time to cut the stupid flat down pipe off and install a real exhaust

Hope this helps someone out and let me know if there are any questions

8inchstroker · Apr 12, 2012

Looks good man:thumbsup:

Tom S · Apr 13, 2012

Thanks for the write up David.

brewer · Apr 26, 2012

Glad someone finally did this and made a write-up. Looks like a good install. I had to replace my cooler about 1.5 years ago and was going to do this. Installed a Tru-Cool cooler instead, as I decided it seemed to be way more of a pain to install than it was worth it, but still kind of wished I did instead. But I think this would be a great option for others.

You have any more pics of your mounts (like how the mounts attach to the truck)? I'd just be curious to see them

ClassicIDI · Apr 28, 2012

The main reason I decided on this cooler over the Tru-Cool is the fact that I plan on some kind of winch bumper in the future and the Tru-cool doesn't really work with aftermarket bumpers. Also it seems like all the guys running the Tru-cool ones still use the factory radiator cooler as well, which I wanted to get rid of.

I'll try to get some pics of the mounts but they were actually just stupid easy to make. The two lower ones were literally just 3 3/4" long spacers against the radiator support. I used the two factory "wing mounts" on the 6.0 cooler and just drilled two holes in the radiator support and put these spacers between the radiator support and the wings, and got some 4 1/2 long bolts. The upper ones were a little more tricky. They are essentially a "Z". They screw into the same upper bar that the hood latch is mounted to. They come straight down towards the ground about 2" then bend 90* straight forward towards the grill for about 1 3/4", and then bend 90* straight down at the ground again. Then I just drilled a hole in them and used the factory mounting holes on the 6.0 cooler.

zilla68 · Apr 28, 2012

dumb question, but does it matter which hose goes to which barb on the cooler?
is there an in and out or just hook one up then the other and go with it?

Drwoodchopper · May 2, 2012

zilla68 said:
dumb question, but does it matter which hose goes to which barb on the cooler?
is there an in and out or just hook one up then the other and go with it?

It doesn't matter. I wish the retun was on the bottom to make it a little easier to flush if you ever needed to. I suppose you could try to mount it upside down, but not really a big deal.
I wanted to do this cooler but I think it would block too much air for guys with intercoolers. I went with a V-10 coler as it is still pretty large.
Nice job!

4duggan · May 3, 2012

Oops , mine is upside down .

Nice job on the write up.

300000 and counting · Nov 13, 2013

What size line did the obs 7.3 have on it originally 5/16"???

gnxtc2 · Nov 15, 2013

Drwoodchopper said:
It doesn't matter. I wish the retun was on the bottom to make it a little easier to flush if you ever needed to. I suppose you could try to mount it upside down, but not really a big deal.
I wanted to do this cooler but I think it would block too much air for guys with intercoolers. I went with a V-10 coler as it is still pretty large.
Nice job!

http://powerstrokenation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140448

Billy T.
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