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Adding the factory external transmission #: 724

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Posted: Mon Mar 26th, 2018 12:49 am

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wh23g3g
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It appears that the factory external automatic transmission cooler did not come equipped with the 1998 Ford Ranger 2.5 4R44E. It looks like it was available with the 4R44E 3.0 and the 4.0 with the 5R55E. I've had a Hayden aftermarket stick on cooler for years but I had to remove a plastic shield behind the grille in order to mount it. I'm wanting to do away with it and add a factory external transmission cooler. Since I don't have any too look at to figure out they are hooked up I was wondering if anyone actually has the factory cooler. I've looked through the various options of replacement cooler lines and it appears that one of the metal lines from the transmission goes straight to the external cooler via a rubber hose at the end, then via another rubber hose at the other end of the cooler returns through a partial metal line that screws into the bottom of the radiator. It appears that the top radiator cooler line would stay the same. Is this correct? I know it's a little different on the 3.0 and 4.0 because the radiator mounted cooler fittings I think are on different sides. I have the Hayden aftermarket one hooked up from the top radiator cooler line to the external cooler, then back to the top radiator cooler line fitting, leaving the bottom cooler line untouched. That was the way suggested when I installed the Hayden aftermarket cooler. So it looks like the Ford factory external cooler would be hooked up the other way. What does the factory external cooler bolt to behind the grille? Does it use existing screws or does it have it's own separate screws? I'm basically wanting to add it to a 2.5 4R44E like it could have been factory applied.

Last edited on Mon Mar 26th, 2018 12:51 am by wh23g3g

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Posted: Mon Mar 26th, 2018 12:49 pm

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I know on the 4.0 it screws here with its own bolts behind the grill. There is a 3.0 sitting in my driveway too I can take a pic of it when I get home.

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Posted: Tue Mar 27th, 2018 01:52 am

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You could, they're low pressure lines..

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Posted: Wed Mar 28th, 2018 01:41 pm

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If you need to replace or extend any cooler hoses, do not use ordinary fuel line. Specialty transmission hose is more expensive but it is designed for the higher pressures, higher temperatures and different chemistry of an AT cooler application. AT cooler hose will be marked as such and should meet SAE standard J1019. It is available in different inside diameters to match the size of the truck's hard lines. Any legit auto parts store should have it in stock.

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Posted: Sat Apr 14th, 2018 11:23 pm

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I saw a couple 99 Rangers today in the salvage yard with factory external coolers. I saw how it was connected and I went ahead and grabbed the 3 screws. I'll buy a new cooler. The way I've had my aftermarket Hayden cooler hooked up on my 2.5L for years is through the top line. I disconnected the oem top cooler line from the radiator and put the transmission spec cooler hose on it and ran to the cooler. Then I had a barbed fitting in the radiator where the original line went and had a hose running back to the other external cooler connection. I'll have to see if I can get a picture. The problem is I've had to remove my plastic black air dam behind the grill to run the cooler hose through a hole that was in the core support. Even with a grommet put in there over the years it's worn a groove in the hose. I fixed the grommet for now but I'll need to change the hose so I was planning on doing the swap to the factory external cooler while I do that. Does it matter if you run the external cooler hoses through the bottom transmission line or the top transmission line? It appears the 6 cylinders ran from the bottom cooler line. But I'm not sure because the 4.0 was the 5R55E and the 3.0 I think had a fitting on both sides of the radiator. I don't want to connect it wrong and burn up the transmission. I could just run the hoses the way I have it to the new oem external cooler but it would just be a lot more hose since it's coming from the top.

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Posted: Mon May 21st, 2018 10:49 pm

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I got the factory external cooler today. I just have to by some hose. I see the pictured posted. I took notice of how it mounted when I was in the salvage yard looking for other pieces. When I compared to my 98 Ranger I have that screw hole, and the slotted hole but mine has a air bag crash sensor there. On mine where the cooler bracket is mounted in the posted picture I have a body tag mounted there with two small screws. I'm assuming that's the one of the is the same hole as pictured. I got some factory scews from a cooler at the salvage yard. I have the two bracket screw holes on the bottom on my truck. So it appears that the connections can be tied in with the radiator cooling lines using either the top of bottom line. But what is the best setup to use. Right now I've got the aftermarket cooler tied in with my top radiator cooler line. It looked like at the salvage yard Ford tied it through the bottom line. It doesn't appear that there is an in and out either on the factory external cooler so I guess it doesn't matter which hose goes where.

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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2018 09:15 am

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Correct there is no in and out you can use whichever side you choose.
Typically the trans fluid is first cooled by the radiators fluid/fluid cooler then on to the aux air/fluid cooler
You can mount it however you wish as long as you keep it in the airflow of the radiator fan and it is best to stack it as close to the ac condensor or radiator so air goes through it and not around. Air will flow around a cooler instead of through it given the choice.

Good choice adding the aux cooler, all 4r and 5r trans could benefit from this. I hate to see trucks with the single core radiator and no aux cooler!!

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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2018 02:53 pm

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Still trying to determine the best way to tap into the oem cooler. I will be running it in series with the oem cooler. I'm not 100% sure but I think on the 3.0 and 4.0's Ford tapped into the bottom inlet cooler line. But I never could tell by the ones in the salvage yard because they were all cut. Currently I have the small Hayden cooler tapped into the upper return line. So it goes into the factory cooler then the Hayden cooler and back to trans. Is the best way to hook it up? I know it will use the most hose.

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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2018 08:27 pm

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wh23g3g wrote:
It appears that the factory external automatic transmission cooler did not come equipped with the 1998 Ford Ranger 2.5 4R44E. It looks like it was available with the 4R44E 3.0 and the 4.0 with the 5R55E. I've had a Hayden aftermarket stick on cooler for years but I had to remove a plastic shield behind the grille in order to mount it. I'm wanting to do away with it and add a factory external transmission cooler. Since I don't have any too look at to figure out they are hooked up I was wondering if anyone actually has the factory cooler. I've looked through the various options of replacement cooler lines and it appears that one of the metal lines from the transmission goes straight to the external cooler via a rubber hose at the end, then via another rubber hose at the other end of the cooler returns through a partial metal line that screws into the bottom of the radiator. It appears that the top radiator cooler line would stay the same. Is this correct? I know it's a little different on the 3.0 and 4.0 because the radiator mounted cooler fittings I think are on different sides. I have the Hayden aftermarket one hooked up from the top radiator cooler line to the external cooler, then back to the top radiator cooler line fitting, leaving the bottom cooler line untouched. That was the way suggested when I installed the Hayden aftermarket cooler. So it looks like the Ford factory external cooler would be hooked up the other way. What does the factory external cooler bolt to behind the grille? Does it use existing screws or does it have it's own separate screws? I'm basically wanting to add it to a 2.5 4R44E like it could have been factory applied.
Today at I dismantled a 99 Mazda B2500 with 4R44E slush box. It had a factory external transmission cooler mounted to the radiator support just like all 4.0 4x4 automatic trucks. So they are out there

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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2018 10:15 pm

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There must not be a lot. I rarely see a 2.5 Ranger in the yards at all. I went ahead and added the cooler today. The top bracket screw location was behind my body tag so I had to remove the body tag. It mounted just like all the others I saw. I just reused my 3/8" tranmission cooler hose because it didn't show any wear. I thought my black plastic grille cover was going to go back on now but it interferes with the cooler. So I don't know if the external cooler models had a different cover or none at all. The front ends are always dismantled so far in the salvage yards I can't tell if they had them or not. I only see a part number for the 2.5 and it only refers to it as a grille cover and doesn't show what it looks like so I'm not sure if thats what it is.

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