I know there were a couple guys interested in this cooler, so I thought I would post that I just installed one last night. It is not a direct bolt on like the Mike L cooler, but it is alot less expensive. No offense to Mike, I'm sure his is a top notch cooler, I just didn't have the funds for it. Anyway, I installed it on my dad's 04 lly dually. It was pretty easy. The hardest part was finding the right hose, which I eventually located at a John Deere dealer. The fittings on the cooler are 1/2 NPT. I'm not sure what size the factory fittings are, but they are bigger. If you can figure out what size they are and get an adapter, you won't have to cut the lines. I did a "blow test" before installing, and there didn't seem to be a problem with flow. Materials needed are: about 10" of 5/8 hose(I used a 350 psi high temp oil resistant); 4 hose clamps; 4 - 1/4" or 3/8" (I would have preferred 3/8' but all I had was 1/4) bolts, nuts, and washers; teflon tape; 2 - 1/2" NPT to 5/8" hose fittings; about 8 ft of 18 ga 2 strand wire; wire ties; black tape; 1.5 qts fluid. The only modifications I did were to cut the factory fittings off the lines with a pipe cutter and drill 3 holes for mounting(I used 1 hole already there), and I cut and flipped the cross brace so that the cooler sat level. In testing the cooler, we got the tranny temp up to about 180-185 deg and the fan kicked on. In a matter of seconds the temp started falling back and the fan turned itself off. The Summit catalog says it comes on at 160, but the manual that comes with it says 176. The manual does say not to mount it with both fittings down and the temp sensor on top(says it can throw off the temp it comes on at) , but that's the only way to do it without extensive mods and hoses going all over the place. I figure if the auto switch doesn't work, I'll just wire up a switch in the dash. My dad will be towing this weekend, so I'll post some real world results early next week. Total work time = under 2 hours. If it works for my guinea pig, er, dad, I'll be putting one on my truck next.

If possible I would like to see you double clamp the hoses because the Ally flows a lot of fluid, more so than anything I have seen. Make it a habit to inspect your hoses for seepage from time to time ( good insurance). Good job.
mike

Thanks for the advice Mike. Depending on how this thing works, I may be ordering one from you in the future. Like I said, using pop's truck as the test unit, and I definitely will be installing some type of upgraded cooler on my truck eventually. If any data from the unit I've installed can help you out in your development of a fan cooled unit, let me know. My dad tows alot of weight, so I can get real world data for you.

Timberwolf530

Thanks for the offer. If you need some help from me, you know where to find me.:D and it's not on a sheep farm.:eek: ):h
mike

What part number was that B&M cooler, or is there only one? Any installed pictures? Sounds good.

The part # I used was 70266, it is the largest capacity(28,000 lbs.) they make and they call it their race cooler and does not come with their install kit because for racing you'd modified the installation anyway I guess is their thinking. For installation, here's what I did. remove the old cooler. have 4-4" L brackets with some 1/4" screws/bolt handy. Use the existing top holes (used w/ the OEM cooler), cut and mount the L brackets to fit. Same for the bottom BUT you'll have to drill new hole for the bottom cross bracket.

here's the next step, get 2-1/2 NPT barb fitting from Lowe's, cut the barb portion off. Remove the quick disconnect fitting from the OEM cooler and braze the two fitting together. BE SURE YOU REMOVE THE "O" RINGS BEFORE BRAZING. Re-install in the new cooler ,use tefflon tape. By doing this you can still use the OEM quick disconnect tubing from the transmission. No cutting the pipe and hoses and clamps. The pipe can be re-positioned easily as it is connected to a rubber hose under the air dam. :cool2:
I did not take any pic as it was straight forward after I got the grill off. It just snaps into place. I did'nt install a fan as I did'nt think it was necessary because air is moving across the cooler when your moving anyway...I may be wrong though and have to add a fan later.
Good luck, later RON

Sorry guys, I thought I posted that before. Summit Racing stock # is: BMM-70297
http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?Ntt=70297&Ntk=KeywordSearch&DDS=1&searchinresults=false&N=0&target=egnsearch.asp&x=24&y=7
I don't have any installed pictures now, but I am supposed to change the tranny fluid some time this week. I'll take some then. I will also update with performance numbers when available. This is on my dad's truck and he hasn't had any long trips yet.

On a short run of about 50 miles towing over 20,000 lb my dad reported to me that the temp on the guage never rose above 180, where it used to run over 200. It was about 90 deg outside during the trip, so it seems to be working good. I should have pics this weekend if anyone is interested.

Well, my dad took his first long trip towing the horse trailer. Air temp was 85-90 deg with fairly high humidity. He went from central Indiana to Lexington, KY to the horse park. The tranny temp never went over 180-190 deg. I state a range, because I'm not sure exactly what the temp is at the position where the needle stops. We're going off the stock guage. Anyway, the temp steadily increased until it hit the temp that activates the fan sensor and it never increased over that temp. I am extremely pleased with the results. I will definitely be installing one on my truck next spring unless my financial picture changes and I can afford one of Mike L's. Mike, I'm not saying anyone should buy this instead of yours. I have a feeling yours is a higher quality unit(and easier to install for sure). It's just an option for those who can't afford it.

Well, my dad took his first long trip towing the horse trailer. Air temp was 85-90 deg with fairly high humidity. He went from central Indiana to Lexington, KY to the horse park. The tranny temp never went over 180-190 deg. I state a range, because I'm not sure exactly what the temp is at the position where the needle stops. We're going off the stock guage. Anyway, the temp steadily increased until it hit the temp that activates the fan sensor and it never increased over that temp. I am extremely pleased with the results. I will definitely be installing one on my truck next spring unless my financial picture changes and I can afford one of Mike L's. Mike, I'm not saying anyone should buy this instead of yours. I have a feeling yours is a higher quality unit(and easier to install for sure). It's just an option for those who can't afford it.

Good report and I am glad it works. I built my cooler for a specific reason; that being that I did not want any mistakes or damage on install to our trucks. There are other coolers out there that work and you found one :cool2: but your dog can not install it like he could mine. ):h Congrats on your success.
mike

but your dog can not install it like he could mine. ):h mike

Dog? Don't you mean Sheep :p: