I have a 76 chevy 3+3 that has a 454 and a turbo 400. I use it to haul my triple axle 25 foot long trailer with my toyota that weighs like 4000 pounds. Do I need to get a tranny cooler for it and how big of cooler do I need? I will be moving from Eastern Washington back to So Cali and I don't want to burn up the tranny. Is there anything I should watch for when towing. This will be my first long haul towing experience. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I can't say from experience if they help or not, but only because I have put them on everything I've had since high school. I do know that I have heard of transmission companies that include a cooler (it was for a 700r4) because they required them for the warranty to be valid.

I would say do it. They are inexpensive, and if nothing else, the increased fluid capacity can't hurt. we go out of our way to cool the oil and even power sterring fluid because we know that heat and fluids are a bad mix, so why would tranny fluid be any different.

Just my .02


Good luck on the trip!

YES!!! Especially if you're towing! I think it's a good idea also to put a temp guage on a towing rig for the tranny (if it's auto).

my '95 C3500 came stock with one. Plus a oil cooler and PS cooler and clutch fan and eletric fan too. 454/ 4L80HD 3.73 locker.

Run the biggest cooler you can afford and the tranny temp gague with external filter is not a bad idea either.

get a bigger cooler........ also do not keep the fluid too cool, thats not good either.

How would I put a tranny temperature gauge on my TH350? Where would I put the sending unit?

Try the search button newbie. :shaking:


There are a couple of articles out there that mention where they are plumbed.

Definitely throw on a cooler. You probably aren't too bad with the weather being colder now but come spring, not to mention coming back to CA, you'd be better off adding an additional cooler and a temp guage wouldn't hurt, espeacially if you actually want to know what's going on in there.

You probably aren't too bad with the weather being colder now
Shit it hit the 90s in parts of So CAL today.

Hit the PNP, i found a heck of a waffle style cooler thats large and flat on a 15passenger Ram350 van...Between that, my larger capacity pan, and external filter w/the air temp in the 30's i only run 130' or so tranny temp :-\...If i'm out wheelin and all it'll get around to 150-180

Originally posted by tail_lite
get a bigger cooler........ also do not keep the fluid too cool, thats not good either.

As long as it isn't below 32* F it is great. Trannies like it cold. Plus intenal friction will ALWAYS keep the belts and gears warm no matter what cooler you have on it.

Is a tranny cooler necessary: Yes. Like said before, get the biggest that you can and put a guage and filter on it.