Sorry if this is a stupid question. I'm about to install a transmission cooler before I install my new transmission. Is the factory cooler in the radiator? I'm sure it's easy to tell and I'm going to feel like an idiot when I get an answer......

Oh yeah, it's an 02 2WD Silverado.

 

Your transmission lines will be hooked up to an external cooler instead of being hooked to the radiator if already have one. If not they are hooked to the radiator.
When I did my other rig I bypassed the radiator all together. But don't know if anyone has ran thru the radiator then thru the external cooler.

 

My 05 has the towing package, and has a small cooler (about 6" x 9") in front of the a/c condenser. My lines ran through the radiator cooler and the tow pkg cooler. I just pulled the cooler and put a bigger one in it's place. Still using the radiator cooler too.

 

So basically if the tranny lines go to the radiator I don't have a factory cooler?

 

Correct

John

 

I would think it would make more sense to bypass the radiator all together right? I would figure it'd still pick up much more heat running thru the radiator

 

Yep they make a radiator bypass, so when you start the truck it goes through the radiator to help warm the tranny up faster, then bypasses it once its warmed up and only goes through the aftermarket cooler

 

Hell, I use all 3 in my 2000

 

See, that's what confuses me. So is there one in the radiator and the towing package added an external transmission cooler?

Basically I'm looking for what specifically I need to do to install a cooler. I have lines running to my radiator, can I just use those for the cooler and bypass the radiator (not needed in west Texas)?

 

yes u can. pull the hose off the radiator and run them to the cooler instead. I live in AZ, cold to me is this 65* weather we have right now, I think that would be fine