Re: 55 Packard Transmission Cooler Mockup ?

Posted by BigKev On 2009/12/13 14:52:13

Brian,

To answer your question about the transcooler construction, the two halves are stamped steel, and appear to be crimped, and then sweated together. Internally the cooler has a metal hardline tubbing that is coiled in a elongated oval to give as much transfer surface as possible. In '54 in there were at least 2 versions of this cooler. One for the normal passengers cars, and then a "Heavy" duty version which I imagine was for the Commercial Chassis. The difference is the diameter of the tubing and larger trans line fittings.

When I replaced mine with a NOS unit, I also replace all the trans lines. But I put in a small 5 inch long spliced-in section in one line towards the front. So in the future I could easily remove the spliced section and attach a aux cooler in line without have to cut into the hard line.

As stated by others, the OEM cooler tended to rust at the water hose connections. Sweating brass ends on would be an improvement. On the NOS unit I acquired, I repainted it in the Eastwood Chassis black, and also painted the inside of the hose connectors to hopefully ward off rust a little longer.