I finally got around to putting in the truecool transmission cooler on the h2. I also did a fluid/filter change and swapped out the lines for braided ptfe ones to go with the shinny new cooler. I haven’t made a bracket for the fourth hole yet. It doesn’t really need one other than it looks goofy. I picked up a 140 degree thermostat from improved racing too since I’m bypassing the radiator.

the trucks got 130,500 miles on it and the transmission has just over 40k. This is the first time fluids been changed and it was BLACK! There wasn’t metal in the pan or anything but that fluid was burnt to hell. I will never understand why gm let these transmissions run so hot. I’d see 220 in atlanta traffic and 230s when towing only half its capacity. Hopefully this will improve it a bunch. Here’s a few pictures. Ignore the goofy Snapchat captions.

not to brag or anything but the pan on my 6l80 slides right out without having to pry the exhaust.

 

Nice work Gavin I changed my filter when I first got my 08 H2, I too was able to get the 6L80 pan to slide right out without having to screw with the exhaust. Of course I vacuumed out most of the fluid through the dip stick so I didn't have a mess moving it around to get it out.

Anyway when your all done post up a parts list of what you used, I am sure many here might be interested in doing the same project!

 

On my 2009 I had the fluid changed at the dealer at 50 K. They flushed the complete system and did it at the cooler line in and outputs. Then they tried BS-ing ne and telling me that GM doesn't recommend a filter change anymore as it's Paper. I knew there were full of it but just paid the bill and bolted. A few weeks later I had ordered a New (MADE IN AMERIA) GM Tranny Pan which comes with the reusable basket.

Then I took it over to the Hot Rod Shop near me and had a drain Plug welded in. Then bought me some GM Tranny Fluid and picked up the Filter Seal install tool on ebay for $20. Ordered a New Filter. I Put the bolt torque for the Pan bolts and the Valve body bolts printed with a P Touch Label maker and the torque sequence numbers on the pan and clear coated them. The torque specs are on there also in Inch Pounds and Foot Pounds for the confused mechanic.

I think it was Gavin who came up with the idea of the 3/4 " pipe thread tool to remove the seal with out using a Hammer and a sharp Pick. If it was some one else..please take credit for it here...L.O.L. as my memory is gone....

Anyway, I just drained out the old fluid from the last change at the pan and added the new filter and seal which is not paper but a Fiber material. Anyway ...I only have 75 K on the clock. You never get all the fluid out as allot stays up inside the tranny. It will be changed again at 100K.
My Tranny temps never go over 215. Most of the time its at the recommended op temp of about 170-180*.

 

I’ll do mine again soon because of how dark it was. I did manage to get about half of it though.

I don’t know why my truck runs so hot. Brand new the transmission was the same way. I wonder if maybe the cooler was clogged. Probably. I just threw it out though. I had to brake the corner off of it to get the line out.

Doing filter seal wasn’t that bad without the tool. I used a flat head and a claw hammer(always the right tool for the job) to get the side to crunch in and pulled it out with pliers. I used an extension in the opposite side of a large socket and the hammer to seat the new one in.

I didn’t even bother with the torque specs on the pan since I was in a hurry. I just went inside to outside, then the corners with a small 1/4 ratchet till snug and it’s just fine.

if anyone’s interested here’s the parts:
- Trucool 40k- - -6an hose kit (20ft with fittings) - - 2x transmission cooler to 6an adapters(5/18x18 inverted flare) - - transmission thermostat (make sure to get the 140 degree and the 6an male fittings when prompted for to add extras) - https://www.improvedracing.com/oil-t...RoCresQAvD_BwE

you also need a small pocket screwdriver you can heat with a small propane/butane torch and bend inward. This is to help when fraying the hose for the fittings. There’s plenty of YouTube videos on how to make an hose.

And a grinder with a cutoff wheel
and some electrical tape to wrap before you cut.

one thing to note is passenger edge of my cooler hits the hood bracket when closing. A sane normal person should move the power steering cooler and tranny cooler to the drivers side about an inch or two. A tired pissed off teenage shade tree mechanic who’s gotta go to work tomorrow should violently take a grinder to the hood👍
…either way will get the job done.

 

Gavin, thanks for the parts post. I might just end up doing what you did and bypass the factory cooler in the radiator. Post up your final trans temps once you have a chance to do some tests.

 

Thanks for posting the info on the cooler. But like I said I have already replaced the rad and did a coolant flush along with the reverse tranny flush. All this like I said was done at the dealer. The Rad started to leak at the lower right due to wet leaves bunching up down there. It you have trees near you ...check the very lower right and make sure it's clear of gack. My neighbor years ago had and H3 and the internal tranny coolant tank in the rad let go. He had pink coolant!!! That cost him some bucks fixing that.

I guess in one way the coolant tank in the rad is a good thing in the winter. It helps warm the tranny fluid when it's cold. I check my tranny temp when i start up and on really cold days like 22 -24* the other day it was at 48* at Idol after start up. I do fear in the back of my mind having that coolant tank let go. Maybe when I get some more mile on the 2 I'll work on mounting an external Tranny cooler.

I was thinking about on of those small rads with a fan mount and AN fittings rather then jamming it in the front. All I have to do is figure out where you would mount it. I was thinking maybe on top of the bash grid facing down or somewhere in that area. Fan Powered with a Temp sensor and a manual override to turn it on and off.
I bet some one some where has done that . They are made for oil and tranny fluid.

Here's a link to a google page. take your pick....L.O.L.

https://www.google.com/search?q=fan+...hrome&ie=UTF-8

There's a Buch here on Amazon scrool down

 

I can vouch for the derale coolers. The shop I work at uses them and they’re awesome. If you don’t have air suspension you can mount it behind the rear hitch receiver. Also if you do an exhaust with a smaller muffler there’s lots of room on the frame there.

with the improved racing thermostat and not having the radiator in the loop my trans warms up to 145(full operating temp) in about 5 minutes of driving It won’t warm up much when idling tho. This is in 15 degree weather too. (It’s been a frosty few mornings)

 

Great write up and soon I hope to do the same.
Question though, can you replace the transmission Temp sensor for a 140 degree without doing the whole Transmission Cooler build?
Just lol at me if this doesn’t make any sense 😂

 

Got me Air Ride ..But there seems to be a spot for a FAN Cooler past the tranny bash grid on the passenger side. Also ..I have that stock humongous muffler. some of those coolers are quite small.