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Relocating transmission cooler to under skid plate on 2000...AAUGHH!
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Posted 9/3/2011 3:43 AM
tj4tj4
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Date registered: Jul 2009
Location: Das Hinterland, Wisconsin
Vehicle(s): G550 (2014); G55 (Europa 2000)
Posts: 277
100
Relocating transmission cooler to under skid plate on 2000...AAUGHH!

When I went to relocate the tran. radiator, using the factory relocation kit, both the in- and out- hoses were pressed up too tight to the frame to install them correctly. Jury-rigging doesn't look like an option on account of the hoses are uber-bulky and cannot find anywhere to zip-tie them to prevent contacting wheels, steering rods, etc.

Just to confirm--there is already another cooler located down there--or is this only on the G55? It would be a simple job if I was only putting one down there... Here are some very poor pix of my problem-areas.

Anybody done this on the 2000? The photos I've seen posted show smaller/less bulky hose attachments (assume not 2000 model year). Not sure if I need to remove the cooler and take it to a fabricator to have the in-out hoses sized down a bit or what. Can't just put it inside the ARB front bumper--the winch is already there...

That's one day of my life I'm not getting back.

Insights?

First photo shows driver's side solid piping (which easily rotates 270 degrees) that contacts hard against the frame.
Second photo shows bulky "soft" hose that also presses up against frame too much to bold down using factory relo kit.

Edited by tj4tj4 9/3/2011 3:47 AM




(side one.jpg)



(side two.jpg)



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Attachments side one.jpg (42KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments side two.jpg (42KB - 0 downloads)
#194203
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Posted 9/3/2011 8:42 AM
gbenzer
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Date registered: Dec 2006
Location: Georgia
Vehicle(s): 2007 G-500, 2017 Audi Q7
Posts: 418
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RE: Relocating transmission cooler to under skid plate on 2000...AAUGHH!

On my 2007 G 500 I loosened the nuts as seen on your pics and let the hoses rotate as I relocated the cooler. This let the stress on the hoses to be lessened and then I tightened the nuts. I think the curved hose is the one that rotated the most. The cable ties were used the secure the relocated hose. I don't remember any issues with other parts. God luck with your project.
#194206 - in reply to #194203
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Posted 9/3/2011 9:39 AM
tj4tj4
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Date registered: Jul 2009
Location: Das Hinterland, Wisconsin
Vehicle(s): G550 (2014); G55 (Europa 2000)
Posts: 277
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RE: Relocating transmission cooler to under skid plate on 2000...AAUGHH!

That was my initial through, and my reference to the 270-degree swing on the drivers' side U-pipe. No flex built into the passenger side--anybody remember if their attachments were this large and/or stuck out this much from the cooler itself, in non-2000 vehicles?

Thanks and please keep the comments coming. Any 2000 owners out there?
#194210 - in reply to #194206
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Posted 9/3/2011 10:13 AM
W5YK
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Date registered: May 2006
Location: San Diego
Vehicle(s): 2002 G500, Unimog U2450,
Posts: 543
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Re: Relocating transmission cooler to under skid plate on 2000...AAUGHH!

It is only the G55 that already has a cooler there. On G500s, there is nothing there at all. That is probably why it is not working.

Maybe you could fit it behind the winch bumper? I have two coolers - one on the skid plate and one behind the winch bumper, sticking down a little to get air flow. I'll see if I can dig up some photos.

#194211 - in reply to #194203
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Posted 9/3/2011 5:32 PM
martin
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Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Del Mar, CA Isles of Scilly, UK
Vehicle(s): 99 G500 95 E300D 95 R1100GS 06 K1200R
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RE: Relocating transmission cooler to under skid plate on 2000...AAUGHH!

Andrew,

I relocated the transmission oil cooler on my 1999 G500 with the G55 bits. I had to loosen the driver side hose connection to rotate the fitting so that it wouldn't contact the frame rail.

My truck has a 90 deg fitting, not a 180deg fitting like your truck. Hope the pics help. It's tough to get a good shot with the sway bar in the way.

-Martin



(driver side 01.jpg)



(driver side 02.jpg)



(pass side 01.jpg)



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Attachments driver side 01.jpg (471KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments driver side 02.jpg (517KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments pass side 01.jpg (372KB - 0 downloads)
#194233 - in reply to #194203
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Posted 9/5/2011 1:29 PM
tj4tj4
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Date registered: Jul 2009
Location: Das Hinterland, Wisconsin
Vehicle(s): G550 (2014); G55 (Europa 2000)
Posts: 277
100
Mission Accomplished

Mission Accomplished: What I learned

1) If you have a G55, do NOT waste your money on a "transmission cooler relocation kit" for $65 or whatever I paid.

2) There is no room to install said transmission cooler (using the kit), and it won't fit anyway, so don't bother trying.

3) Buy a strapping kit (flat metal with holes) and strap the cooler to the frame, in front of the in-the-way cooler. Don't worry about getting it too tight, the skid plate will hold in place.

4) Order a 180mm hex bolt from Fastenal.com before you start the project (attaching a Toyota LC 75/78/79 ARB bumper w/ attachment brackets), you'll need it for the passenger-side rear-most bolt, which goes through some yet-unknown steering mechanism.

5) Hope and pray you haven't screwed up... I'll let you know when I finish my 1,000 round-trip to Wisc. next week.



(truck small arb HF791.jpg)



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Attachments truck small arb HF791.jpg (55KB - 1 downloads)
#194291 - in reply to #194203
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Posted 9/5/2011 4:27 PM
Razon



Date registered: Jul 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Vehicle(s): 1986 280ge Cabrio, 617A, 5sp manual
500
RE: Mission Accomplished

Why didn't you just zip-tie it to the frame? Those would of been cheaper...

I'm just curious....what is the " in-the-way cooler"? You do realize that whatever that is is not getting nearly as much cooling as it used to before.

Leaving all sarcasm behind, if you say things like: "some yet-unknown steering mechanism" and "Don't worry about getting it too tight, the skid plate will hold in place" ... you shouldn't be doing any work on a car.

Edited by Razon 9/5/2011 5:15 PM
#194294 - in reply to #194291
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Posted 9/6/2011 12:05 PM
tj4tj4
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Date registered: Jul 2009
Location: Das Hinterland, Wisconsin
Vehicle(s): G550 (2014); G55 (Europa 2000)
Posts: 277
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Re: Relocating transmission cooler to under skid plate on 2000...AAUGHH!

Strapping kit is effectively same as metal zip ties (plastec would melt) and reference to skid plate holding it in place was in be event that attachment failed, not as main source of support, sorry if you took my sarcasm too literally. And yes, I am amply capable of working on my own truck (not sure which car you were referring to but I won't touch the Porche's motor, I'll allow that you meant that).
#194317 - in reply to #194203
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Posted 9/6/2011 3:27 PM
Razon



Date registered: Jul 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Vehicle(s): 1986 280ge Cabrio, 617A, 5sp manual
500
RE: Relocating transmission cooler to under skid plate on 2000...AAUGHH!


The way you wrote the previous statement made me think that perhaps you haven't considered all the implications of the modifications.
Yes...I didn't get your sarcasm I apologise.

Here are the things I had concerns about (note: I'm not familiar with the G55 setup, so I'm only making general coments):

1. I undertand you put the tranny cooler ahead of the "in the way cooler". Stacking coolers (radiators) that don't have a fan it's not a good ideea (unless the system is specially designed for that). Putting the tranny cooler ahead of another radiator not only will restrict the flow but when the tranny is working hard it will increase the temperature of the radiator behind it.
As a real world scenario...think what would happen if you'll ever have to drive in 4lo up a steep hill/trail (only a few mph).That will really work your tranny, but because the speed is low you won't get any real air flow through the radiators...the hotter one will transfer the heat into the cooler one as well.

2. Radiators are relatively fragile. Especially with the larger ones that go from one side of the car to the other, they should be mounted on rubber bushings to allow for movement/twist in the frame/mounting points. If that is not Necessary, you'll want it mounted solid enough that it does not move and allow it to contact other components. If as you leave it "slack" and it rubs against the skid plate...it's life would most likely be short. I wouldn't count on that as a backup. You would never know if a mounting point broke and now there is interference...you'll only know once the tranny will start slipping because all the fluid is on the ground.
I'm not sure how well the material the "strapping kit" is made out of resists to vibrations. If not rigid enough, they'll most likely fail from fatigue (repetitive bending due to vibrations).

#194331 - in reply to #194203
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Posted 11/1/2021 11:36 AM
Otiswesty
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Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3002
2000
Re: Relocating transmission cooler to under skid plate on 2000...AAUGHH!

Old thread, but here are some pics of the second cooler set up on a 350GD which could be used to remount the bumper Trans cooler on a G55.



(G350Cooler.jpg)



(2ndCooler.jpg)



(CoolerFrontal.jpg)



(350GDcooler.jpg)



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Attachments G350Cooler.jpg (179KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments 2ndCooler.jpg (108KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments CoolerFrontal.jpg (117KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments 350GDcooler.jpg (140KB - 0 downloads)
#243121 - in reply to #194203
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