New IDI, transmission coolers/filters?

[bab029]

Just got my first one, found documentation in the glove box proving 2000 dollars worth of transmission work (E4OD) about 50K (244xxx currently) ago. Has a shift kit with a box a lot like the banks transcommand, but made by Jet. This actually works as advertised. You can have nice caddy-esque shifts at the lowest setting and at the highest setting the shifts are so fast, you can miss them. You really have to ride in it to appreciate this. Most of the reason i'm so impressed is I've never owned a hopped up automatic, per se.

What I'm most interested in with this post is a rundown on auxiliary trans coolers and a spin on filter. Questions such as where to mount, where to tie into the plumbing etc. I've done a little searching but havent come up with much. Also want to add a trans temp gauge, (Along with the pyro, oil press and coolant temp...) and flushthe old fluid. I would ask about what fluid to use, but experience has taught me better than to ask that on an open internet forum...

Pics to come!

 

[Optikalillushun]

1) those electronic units are no good w/o an appropiate shift kit (which u have). They oost line pressure but with the stock springs they will wear out and break over time, seen it with the BM units.

2) Trans coolers - stacked plate design, highest GVRW u can buy. Dont waste ur time with the tube and fin design, inefficent. I would mount in front of the radiator, with a solid mount...not those plastic strips that go through the radator. Also, factory equiped trucks with the tow package (or something along those lines) have a nice trans cooler that is bolted to the support up front and is a decent size. If u are really paranoid run two coolers. Some debate on how to run them, and weather or not to bypass the radiator cooler, ill leave that up to u.

3) Remote spin on filter - i would use a remote oil filter relocation kit. Cheap and comes with what ya need, also a wise decision. U can tap into that for a trans tep guage or tap into the trans itself, i think there is a port available.

also, i would add a support for the filter at the far end as these filters like to fall out of the hole making reverse hard to enguage. And lastly, upgrade to a later 4R100 trans pan with a built in drain plug or anftermarket deep sump pan with built in drain plug and most have a trans sendor port.

 

[JEdington]

the wix 51525 has same dimensions and should provide good filtering it's a hydrulic rated filter and uses same base as a ford FL1A or PH8A fram engine oil filters. should be a common base to find. Have been considering one on my truck also and a coolant filter havent decided on a base yet most coolant filters have odd threads compared to common filter bases for oil filters.

 

[bab029]

Good info, thanks guys. No recommendations for a tranny fluid?

 

[rovrkil]

Royal Purple, pricey but well worth it!

 

[JEdington]

lucas oil is a good product I believe it's # 10052 for quarts a bit cheaper don't know any comparisons between them. Most important thing is your cooler bigger is always better!

 

[trackspeeder]

Mobil 1 or Valvoline Max life. What ever you use make sure that it has Mercon or Mercon V ratings.

 

[JEdington]

Well i got some filter info today. The filter used on the allison trans is a 57701 it is rated 7 to 9 gph, has a 15 micron rating, and a 3/4 20 thread. the wix 51525 is rated 7 to 9 gph, has a 21 micron rating, and a 3/4 16 thread which i mentioned how common it was before. The allison filter is about the size of a lan mower oil filter and the other is the same size as a gas v8 ford filter. I have always trusted valvoline just cant trust the truck to keep it in the pan, lol. well hope this is helpful or atleast good boring reading.

 

[bab029]

Good Info, thanks. That was my only worry regarding the filter. That is, I didnt want to put on a filter that had too low of a flow rate and wind up with excessive pressure pre filter and too little fluid post filter....