Summit has a B&M cooler with a fan mounted to it. The fan is controled by thermostat. The fan turns on automatically at 160. They have two listed. One being larger than the other.

Does anyone have any experience with this? The price for the larger unit is $210.00. Sounds like a good price to me.


Mark

Look at the tube size.
mike

What should I be looking for?

The cooler has 1/2" NPT in and outs but I assume that is not what you are talking about. I did not see where they listed the tube size. I will investigate more tomorrow.

I am very interested in your cooler Mike. Are you closer to having the one with a fan ready?

Thanks for your input. I value it.


Mark

By noon tommorrow I will have one of Mike's coolers in my truck.

I firmly beleive that it will be worth every penny it costs me.

It is proven, it works, and it is backed by a great guy.

This was not a cooler that was just thrown on the market. Mike was really anal about being perfect. Not only the cooler, but also the brackets.

His cooler is like changing your air filter. Pull the old one out and put in the new.

Who do you know that has tried the one you are looking at??? Does it drop the temp 20-25 degrees???? And what do you do if it doesn't work.

My .02

I to have been looking at the same B&M cooler. I have used B&M before with great results. I would think the 70297 would be more than big enough for our application, but Mike L. is right on the tube size. B&M does not list the size, so it will take a phone call to B&M for that answer.

Mike

I have had B&M coolers on my last two trucks however I didn't have a before and after temp guage to compare by. I don't think they are "thrown on the market" however I am also not saying it is better than Mikes.

I am just trying to make a good comparitive decision. Price is always a part of comparison for me. I do believe that "you get what you pay for" is the rule of thumb most of the time.

Just trying to gather info thats all. I do appreciate Mike's input. It's always good to hear from someone who knows what he is talking about.


Mark

I am shipping some coolers to a well known company that uses the B&M cooler. It will be interesting to see how they compare. When I said look at the tube size; check the fitting that screws into the cooler and see if it is necked down to a smaller size. Our lines are 5/8 ( .625 ) diameter. Blow through the cooler and see if it is restrictive at all.
mike

Update:

I called B&M this morning. They told me that their cooler is not a tube and fin cooler. It is a "stacked plate". According to B&M, the stacked plate has better heat transfer than tube and fin.

Don't have any more info.


Mark

I think Mike L. is concerned about flow rate. Am I correct Mike?

Sounds like that to me as well. I don't have access to one to do a blow through test.

Mark

I think Mike L. is concerned about flow rate. Am I correct Mike?

Yes, that is what I am concerned with. Stacked plate coolers are designed to expand under heat ( open plates ) and they depend on the fluid thinning out to flow. I believe the B&M is a Tru Cool brand cooler ( Dana Corp ) which is oem and they do ok. What I am afraid of is using a cooler that was designed for 3/8 lines and adapting lrger lines to make them work and not getting proper flow. I do not know what B&M is doing so I am not saying it is bad. My cooler is a stacked plate zero pressure drop designed for 5/8 lines or bigger which I believe we need for proper flow. How is the install on the B&M cooler? I believe you will have to cut lines and use hoses and clamps. Good luck and let us know how it performs.
mike

Rumor has it ATS is having some built with 5/8" lines. Don't know what brand the coolers actually are--I suppose the same that are on their website, but with 5/8 rather than 1/2 lines.

I believe you are correct about the way the lines have to be modified to connect. Also, I don't think it is a direct bolt up like yours is Mike.

The installation of your cooler definatly sounds easier and more professional. (which is what I like).

Are you any closer to having your cooler for sale with an external fan?

Thanks for your guidance.

I'm sure I will save a few more pennies and buy your cooler Mike. Looking foreward to doing business with you.


Mark

Well you can look at it this way, 1/2 hour at most bolts right up and on mine with suncoast 3 and triple disc it dropped between 25-30 degrees. you may not need a fan also as when temps come up they seem to drop fast as with the old cooler they never cooled off. would be easy to hook up a external fan if needed, but I know the average user will never need one.

After further investigation, I have found the ATS cooler to be a Derale. This is a tube style 1/2". It does have a fan, which is nice to have in traffic. I don't think flow will be a problem, knowing our current trans lines are 1/2". True, it is not a direct drop-in like Mike L's, but there are other advantages. My recommendation is way your pros and cons in what you are looking for and buy it. The only one you have to make happy is yourself.):h

Mike

SETRAB

The only Trans Cooler IMHO that is worth its price... anything else is just throwing money away.

IIRC MikeL's cooler is Made to his specs by SETRAB.

B&M make fine products, nothing wrong with them. SETRAB makes coolers. PERIOD.

ebay has new 9" fan that should only take a second to install
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=33600&item=7989384725