Should I do it all?? Or just in pieces???

[SuperDave456]

Well, this weekend I have a large job planned. I am wondering if I should plan it so that the multiple pieces come together THIS weekend, or if I spread it out.

This is another thread concerning my 1980 dodge 20 passenger bus, that is actually a lengthened widened and heightened dodge van.

The job is working on the transmission. I first planned on just doing a line flush, and installing a in line filter. (I picked up a magnefine filter yesterday from Napa.) This would take me maybe an hour or two on Saturday... but you know how you start thinking and the project...grows...

Now as I price parts, and read up on the bus I am thinking about dropping the pan and the filter, doing a line flush, installing a transmission cooler, and installing the magnefine filter. And cleaning out and replacing the fluid in the rear differential.

However, I still need the transmission cooler, the pan gasket, the differential gasket, and the transmission pan filter.
I am thinking about heading out to a junkyard and seeing what I can find in the Truck and SUV section and just using whatever transmission line cooler I can find there. I cant afford a $100+ new one, and from what I can find the ones you find in the scrap yards are just as good and can be had for $15-20.

SO do I just do the filter and the line flush this weekend? Or do I put it off one more weekend and spend this weekend getting all the gear I need to do it all and do it all next weekend?

In a more concise verbiage "Is there a reason to do this project in pieces?"

Opinions?

 

[JohnBrowning]

Why do you need a cooler? This van did not come with one I take it? If you use a ester based transmission fluid like Redline or Neo's you can easily get away with no cooler. Years ago GM did some internal testing with different transmission fluids at their AZ proving grounds. They found that they could not cause an over heat situation no matter what they did when they used their own in house test fluid that they had made from ester's. They also had temp. 15°F to 35°F cooler then when useing any other fluids. Unfortunately we still have not seen this fluid in use though. Why they tested it and did not go to it I will not ever know?

 

[unDummy]

Plenty of excellent ATF coolers at the salvage yards. Look for Taxis, Police cars, Ambulances, and just about ANY truck/suv with a tow package.

 

[SuperDave456]

It has a radiator based cooler which is good, but it could be better.
Also, after researching it installing a cooler is easy the most difficult part will be searching for one.

 

[mechtech2]

If a tired and heavily loaded bus converted from a van[in Texas] doesn't need an aftermarket trans cooler, what does?
The boneyard is a smart idea.