Cheroke A/C Rad for Turbo 400 tranny cooler?

[ashmanjeepxj]

I just pulled my I6 drive train to prepare for my 350 V8 swap. I have no need for A/c Anymore. Buggieafied. I am going ot use a turbo 400 automatic and dont have a tranny radiator yet.

Could the stock XJ A/C radiator be used as a Big tranny cooler?
Would it be too restrictive?



Its a crawler, low speed, 4:1 gearing behind the turbo 400, 5.13 gears and 42s, in hot Arizona weather.

I plan to cut out some of the front crossmember to run a taller skinnier Aluminimum Rad between the steering box and the frame to cool the 350.

Ill either be running two electric fans or a mechanical fan off the 350 possibly with the stock xj electric fan to the side.

 

[Storydude]

Yes it'll work, and no it will not be too restrictive.

 

[BIGoffroadXJ]

just from experience, cooling a 350 with an electric fan is hard, i switched back to the mechanical fan... its going to be real tough to find a radiator to cool it. I did the exact thing you plan to do with cutting the xmember(unfortunately you'll find that the frame rails and the steering box get in you way and limit the width of you radiator), and an aluminum radiator. So far the most effective method ive found of cooling the 350 is to run a stock fan, with a shroud, and a coolant mixture of less than 20% antifreeze with DEI coolant additive, or something similar(can be found in any parts store). If your going to run an electric fan i would suggest running as a push fan on the front of the radiator, or running dual fans on a switch. lemme know how it turns out, ive been through it twice so PM if you have any questions that might save you the headaches i ran into.

 

[ashmanjeepxj]

So far the most effective method ive found of cooling the 350 is to run a stock fan, with a shroud, and a coolant mixture of less than 20% antifreeze with DEI coolant additive, or something similar(can be found in any parts store). If your going to run an electric fan i would suggest running as a push fan on the front of the radiator

I will use the stock fan and sroud if I have enough length.
What radiator are you using? What did you pay?

If I go all electric fans Id have to get a good alternator, and as Ive read they have relay reliability issues because the startup current is very high. Mechanical fan sounds best and most reliable if it will fit.

Ill use the AC rad for the tranny cooler.

 

[BIGoffroadXJ]

I will use the stock fan and sroud if I have enough length.
What radiator are you using?

You should definately have space, i actually have my fan spaced forward to get it close to the radiator. If you do decide to run the electric pusher fan, mount your radiator closer to the engine and run a fan with no spacer, and then put the pusher fan on a manual switch and only run it at low speeds: IE: traffic and wheeling

i'm using an afco 20"x25" dual core aluminum radiator with a 16lb cap... i finally got all the kinks worked out of it.

A shroud is key, if you dont have one your not gonna cool at all at slow speeds, also run a 160 degree Tstat.

a tranny cooler should also help to dissapate heat, also run a cowl or hood vents, you gonna need every cooling trick in the book

 

[MudDawg]

I would run a seperate cooler with it's own seperate fan and thermostat. You are going to be slipping the torque converter a lot while crawling. And the heatload for the engine radiator will be greatly reduced. Good choice on the 400....Killer bulletproof tranny....if you keep it cool and well lubed.

If my poor ole brain remembers right...there are two styles of filter...the typical "pad" type, and one that is a long rectangular filter with a "pickup" on the end...they are interchangeable. use the tube type.