Since I occasionally run at, or near GVWR, and because a replacement transmission is somewhere around $7K or so from a Dodge dealer, I decided to add some auxiliary cooling and filtration to my 2006 Sprinter van.
Below is a picture of the mounting bracket I built to hold various components - with the remote spin-on filter mount, sandwich adapter, ATF oil thermostat (all PermaCool), and a B&M SuperCooler mounted to check dry-fit. This bracket is mounted between the frame rails in front of the engine oil pan (barely) and just behind/below the radiator (again, barely) The location for the cooler was chosen due to limited space in front to the vehicle's radiator and behind the grill - I may try and relocate it there later this summer.
It took quite a bit of time to do, because it not only had to fit the vehicle , there had to be adequate room for the various components it was going to hold, not just for their mounting, but in the case of the spin-on filter to be able to change it - and to be able to connect all the hoses. There are another 6 hoses that are not shown in the image (because they connect to other parts on the vehicle - ie. stock cooler and a Motor Guard bypass filter) - a real plumber's nightmare to be sure,
The various pieces of steel were cut a piece at a time, then welded up and then placed on the vehicle to check dry-fit, pulled off and then the process was repeated for the next piece. I didn't have a bender for the steel, which would have made things way easier - so I did it using a bench vise, the welding table, C-clamps, and a 3 lb. hand sledge. That was before I got smart - and realized that I could just cut the metal halfway thru in the bandsaw, then bend it into position easily, and weld the cut closed.
Below is a picture of the mounting bracket I built to hold various components - with the remote spin-on filter mount, sandwich adapter, ATF oil thermostat (all PermaCool), and a B&M SuperCooler mounted to check dry-fit. This bracket is mounted between the frame rails in front of the engine oil pan (barely) and just behind/below the radiator (again, barely) The location for the cooler was chosen due to limited space in front to the vehicle's radiator and behind the grill - I may try and relocate it there later this summer.
It took quite a bit of time to do, because it not only had to fit the vehicle , there had to be adequate room for the various components it was going to hold, not just for their mounting, but in the case of the spin-on filter to be able to change it - and to be able to connect all the hoses. There are another 6 hoses that are not shown in the image (because they connect to other parts on the vehicle - ie. stock cooler and a Motor Guard bypass filter) - a real plumber's nightmare to be sure,
The various pieces of steel were cut a piece at a time, then welded up and then placed on the vehicle to check dry-fit, pulled off and then the process was repeated for the next piece. I didn't have a bender for the steel, which would have made things way easier - so I did it using a bench vise, the welding table, C-clamps, and a 3 lb. hand sledge. That was before I got smart - and realized that I could just cut the metal halfway thru in the bandsaw, then bend it into position easily, and weld the cut closed.