Installing a trans cooler today with PICS

Motorsport-SVX · #1 11-11-2003, 02:22 PM

WIll post up pics tonite of the install we are doing
on a customers car.....
I think its going to look rather nice

Motorsport-SVX · #2 11-12-2003, 01:33 AM

to me it makes the most sense and most
practical way to install a nice size cooler to
any yr, model SVX.

Step 1
remover the lower plastic engine cover

Motorsport-SVX · #3 11-12-2003, 01:37 AM

peel back the plastic inner fender liner on the drivers
side wheelwell.
Youll find plenty of room to install your new cooler...

Youll see a few places you can attach the cooler
marked in the pic....

Motorsport-SVX · #4 11-12-2003, 01:39 AM

Cooler kit comes with plenty of hose, self tapping bolts
and metal brackets.
We installed a few brackets onto the cooler and adjusted
and bent them to fit correctly up inside the wheelwell.
We even used one of the factory bolts to the fender as
an attaching point

Motorsport-SVX · #5 11-12-2003, 01:40 AM

the cooler will get PLENTY of air flow thru the veins
and offer optimum cooling....

Motorsport-SVX · #6 11-12-2003, 01:44 AM

Mount your cooler, use self tapping bolts
supplied. It fits great, and very secure. Now your
ready to route the new rubber lines to the factory
lines around the corner.
We have our Inlet line from the trans, going thru the
auxillary filter mounted on the frame rail, out of
that Into the new cooler, into the radiator cooler
inlet, then back to return to the trans.
Keeping the OE trans cooler connected is optional, but saw
no reason no omit it at this time

Motorsport-SVX · #7 11-12-2003, 01:45 AM

a little more clearer pics
We ran the lines forward around the frame safely
back alongside the framerail.
We had everything inside out kit, didnt have to make
one trip to the hardware store.

Motorsport-SVX · #8 11-12-2003, 01:47 AM

re install large lower plastic panel
and we chose to cut out a nice opening
in the stock wheelwell plastic liner. It helps
scoop up lots of air and direct it right onto
the new cooler.
Job done
total time about 2 hours.

Mr. Pockets · #9 11-12-2003, 12:38 PM

Have you installed a temperature gauge to see how the cooler is performing in that location?

The one big concern I would have is that you have no airflow path for the cooler. Sure, it's in the open, but there's nowhere for air that's flowed through the cooler to go.

I put mine in front of the AC condenser because I figured Subaru had already established nice airflow for me.

Thanks for sharing.

Motorsport-SVX · #10 11-12-2003, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Pockets
Have you installed a temperature gauge to see how the cooler is performing in that location?

The one big concern I would have is that you have no airflow path for the cooler. Sure, it's in the open, but there's nowhere for air that's flowed through the cooler to go.

I put mine in front of the AC condenser because I figured Subaru had already established nice airflow for me.

Thanks for sharing.

over the cooler and past it...
not to mention its not collecting any heat from
other components and no need to remove
the front bumper cover for installation.
Temp before was about 240 during the summer, and it
dropped to an avg 190-210 depending on traffic conditions.
We did this on another car with gauge last summer, just didnt get pics of that set up.

Mr. Pockets · #11 11-12-2003, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Motorsport-SVX

over the cooler and past it...

...past it where, though? You've essentially got a brick wall right behind it. I think that if there was somewhere for the air to go, you'd see lower temperatures. Essentially what I'm saying here is that if you open one window in your house in the summer, you won't cool it off much - even if there's a breeze. Open two windows and you can get that breeze blowing through your house instead of past it.

Quote:

Originally posted by Motorsport-SVX
not to mention its not collecting any heat from
other components and no need to remove
the front bumper cover for installation.

It's actually much easier to just remove the entire bumper instead of just the cover. And I didn't have to drill holes in the car, which I would prefer not to do.

Quote:

Originally posted by Motorsport-SVX
Temp before was about 240 during the summer, and it
dropped to an avg 190-210 depending on traffic conditions.
We did this on another car with gauge last summer, just didnt get pics of that set up.

Glad it helped.

SVXRide · #12 11-12-2003, 06:52 PM

Dayle,
Nice job...I'm sure the pics will go a long way toward helping people do this mod in the future. Couple of questions:
1. What's the yellow box with the coiled wire coming out of it - part of your alarm system?
2. What's leaking in your engine bay? That had to be one of the dirtiest lower engine covers I've seen in a long time

3. Have you thought about covering the cut out section with some expanded metal? I'd be worried that a stray piece of "road trash" or gravel would take the cooler out.
-B

Motorsport-SVX · #13 11-12-2003, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Pockets

Glad it helped.

I would agree with you about the window theory
EXCEPT when your driving at speeds 30 mph +
the Constant Force of air just from moving down
the street is going to keep the cooler working.

If you have a Fan blowing in the doorway and all
windows are still closed, you still get cooled off, correct?

Air doesnt get trapped into your wheelwell,
or in your engine compartment. In the wheelwell
it will travel thru and around the cooler then
over the plastic liner to exit thru the rear of the fender.
If need be you could even create more openings
in the plastic to create more flow if desired
Its also protected from road debris, rocks, bugs
and snow over time.

Motorsport-SVX · #14 11-12-2003, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SVXRide
Dayle,
Nice job...I'm sure the pics will go a long way toward helping people do this mod in the future. Couple of questions:
1. What's the yellow box with the coiled wire coming out of it - part of your alarm system?
2. What's leaking in your engine bay? That had to be one of the dirtiest lower engine covers I've seen in a long time
3. Have you thought about covering the cut out section with some expanded metal? I'd be worried that a stray piece of "road trash" or gravel would take the cooler out.
-B

The yellow box is factory, may have to do with the airbag
system not sure
It wasnt my car, its a customers car. I believe it
was the trans line going into the aux filter. We installed
a new filter, fixed the leak. The car had 75k miles on it.
Thought about a open free flow mesh, but I think its
high enough up and out of the way, doubt anything could
damage it that easily, but its always an option.

Mr. Pockets · #15 11-13-2003, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Motorsport-SVX
The yellow box is factory, may have to do with the airbag
system not sure

Anything yellow is usually for the airbag, and that little box is no exception. It's the sensor for the airbag and there's one on each side.

All wiring, boxes and hardware for airbags seems to be yellow. I imagine that's because at the end of the wire is an explosive - even though that explosive is there for your safety.