Transmission Cooler & Gauge Install *lots of pics*

[lost honda pro]

Finally got around to installing this stuff over the past couple days... it's all really easy, but it's been nasty hot till this week, so I've been waiting. It's a B&M SuperCooler # 70268 (same one Jason uses in his writeup, was $51 new locally) and Autometer 2 1/16" GS Series trans temp gauge (I got this one because the colors match OE Jeep gauges , #3849, $70 local). Anyway, here's the write-up:

1) Remove the two screws in each headlight surround, and the four screws across the top of the grill.



2) Decide where to mount it. I had originally used the two left-most available holes, but got excessive engine temps (from blocking the fan almost entirely) and ended up moving it to where the arrows indicate. The right most hole (red dot below) just needs to be drilled through like 0.0625" aluminum, and there's a hole in the radiator support beneath that.



3) Bend up the supplied brackets (or some plumber's wrap or something) to hold the cooler in place. Mine looked like this, and this should work for any 97-01 model. There's even a hole in the lower radiator support that lines up.





4) Plumbing install is a tad more interesting... I just chopped the two trans lines going into the radiator, used the supplied bard fittings and hose (along with a galvanized T for the gauge thermometer) and it hooked up fine. There was one problem though, both Jason's write-up and the FSM list the FRONT trans line as supply (pressure out), which is it, but both say it goes into the top of the radiator. The FRONT line on mine goes into the bottom of the radiator (which actually makes more sense) and the top is return. So I assumed the top was supply, and have the thermometer on the cold side, which I'm going to switch. Pics to come with proper routing.

*plumbing pics here*

5) You're done installing. Snug everything up, replace the grill and light surrounds, and enjoy the piece of mind.

[lost honda pro]

Now that the cooler and thermometer are installed, it’s gauge time.

1) Remove the center console via the six screws in the storage bin, and these two here.



2) I traced the inside of the backing cup to get a rough idea of gauge diameter, traced that onto the flat spot on the console (in front of the TC lever), Dremel’d it (with a routing bit), and slowly went bigger till it fit snug.







3) Now, test fitting the backing cup, we see that it interferes. Simply shave down the pointy side, outlined here in red, and voila.





4) Wiring. I taped off one of the orange illumination supply wires for the trans/TC shift lever lights, dropped a ground around one of those bolts, and have yet to run the other two. (Pics will come, probably Thursday) Installed, it looks like this.





5) And the best part (though these pics suck, more coming) is that the gauge matches the color of the Jeep gauges very well. I’m thinking about brighter bulbs all around, but for the time being, I’m very pleased.

[Magus2727]

thats a cool palce for the gauge... I will have to stick my next gauge there... Cool write up! do you have pic's were you mounted the sending unit for the Gauge?

[lost honda pro]

Originally Posted by Magus2727

thats a cool palce for the gauge... I will have to stick my next gauge there... Cool write up! do you have pic's were you mounted the sending unit for the Gauge?

Thanks, the idea wasn't mine though... I think it was from the A/C compressor to OBA conversion write-up from a couple months ago, someone stuck an air pressure gauge there.

As for pics, no, not yet. I will take the rest on Thursday (no class ) when I switch the lines around run the wires.

[dcorn]

Good deal man. I thought about mounting mine there, but I ended up buying a gauge cup for my sport comp gauge and mounting it on the shifter bezel. Got my trans cooler in there too, mounted exactly like the writeup. I took off the whole front fascia, drilled into the core support and used the supplied sheet metal screws to hold the brackets. I was amazed how great everything fit in there. I'll take some pics sometime soon.

[xjfan]

Nice write-up... Another project for the jeep. I have the guage but wasn't sure were to put it, problem solved...

Thanks.

[lost honda pro]

thanks for the comments guys, i'll update tomorrow once i run the signal/power wires and get better pics of everything...

[alexrule123]

That is exactly the same place I put my transmission temp gauge and some people didn't think it would be a good idea to put it there but I love it there.

[TehHelmet]

Very cool.

[nascarnation]

I'm doing the identical install on my 97.
On mine the feed line "from" transmission is (like yours) connected to the bottom port on the radiator side tank cooler.

[88XJSport]

Nice. Although it seems the shifter would be in your line of sight with the shifter in 2HI...

[xjarchaeologist]

Nice. Have you thought about hooking up a dimmer knob or a resistor so it's not as bright? I really like that, but it's really bright compared to everything else...

[jeepnatv4life]

Pix of the Gauge Hook up? The T fitting that you used.

[Rowingfish87]

on a somewhat unrelated note, how do you get the shifter handle off? I have to take my console out a few weeks ago and couldnt figure it out...

[FitchVA]

the the gear selector handle just pulls off. the first time she's a stubborn SOB