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Transmission Mods
Okay I added another gauge, I added a B&M transmission gauge, I got it from JEGS .com
Here is the Smallcar transmission cooler , it was a kit and came with everything I needed except any freakin instructions and coolant splice connector.
You remove the factory banjo fittings , where the factory cooler mounts and replace it with these Parker-Hannifin fittings (hint-hint ) The you use a barbed splice/clamps and connect the coolant hoses together. The Smallcar kit did not come with this fitting for the coolant splice, you are on your own.
It looks tight in the picture below, but you actually have room for your hand, and if not, drop the front of the transmission slightly
I then welded in a transmission drain plug, I used a coupling, drilled the pan, then welded it in. The orange wire you see it the B&M sensor for the transmission gauge. The air dam is a Terry K product. IT WORKS! (big temp drop on it's own) Contact him thru the Samba Vanagon Board.
I also used. TYPE F transmission fluid and a bottle of Lucas Transmission fluid.
the next 4 pics came from Smallcar, after I emailed them and told them I needed instructions ;the kit came with nothing and was a little bit intimidating without them..so I'm posting these here to help others who might have gotten the kit and didn't want to ask the 1000 dollar question "how do you install this ##%%^& thing" On a scale of 1-10...it's a 2.
Real World Results.
My gauge reads 120-130 f now, before it what ever the engine coolant was ;the transmission fluid would the same temperature as the engine coolant. The TYPE F , instead of the DEXTRON II is much better, it now shifts smoother, also I had a 1-2 wait before engaging in gear now there is no hesitation at all. Terry K came up with this idea, and my hat is off to him :) The drain plug should have been there to begin with. Most important no more worrying if the factory transmission cooler is going to take a big dump and ruin the van. If they go bad ,you lose your transmission, coolant system and engine...no thanks to that. My engine coolant system has dropped 20 degrees, and my engine oil temps have dropped 25 degrees.
Want to know more?
Here is a great article from GoWesty.com http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=305
Make your own kit from the Samba Board
From Winkshog:
Transmission adapter:
For the special Parker
fitting that goes into the transmission:
Barbed fittings
http://www.fittingsandadapters.com/pusbarmalpip.html
Cooler
http://www.jcwhitney.com/DERALE-ULTRA-THIN-TRANSMI..._10101.jcw
from Broseph
Here's my exact parts
list from JEGS. The radiator unit I have was part of an engine
oil cooler kit I
bought from Bus Boys and never used...similar kit to the one on
the cip website. Should be able to get the unit alone from Empi.
Its a more rugged design than the Hayden radiators for example.
It could take a few shots from road debris and what have you.
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