External Transmission Cooler Mounting Location

I looked around and couldn’t see anything specific on this so if it has already been talked about I apologize. I wanted to ask for those that Have done the external transmission cooler mod on your trucks where did you mount yours and did you use metal brackets? I recently purchased a Hayden 699 external transmission cooler and was watching one of Timmy the tool man’s videos where he mounts one on a 3rd gen 4 runner On the far right side/ drivers side in front of the AC condenser. On my truck a 2003 there are AC lines running in that location. I cannot remember if these lines are there on the 3rd gen 4 runners or not or if maybe they’re not there on earlier year Tacoma‘s or 4 runners.. So I am assuming that either they weren’t there or he bent the metal brackets in a way that allowed the cooler to sit in front of those lines. I tried sliding the cooler back towards the center of the truck directly behind that cross brace. For some reason I had a AC Line running behind that cross brace. After looking at a friends truck the line ran in front of the cross race not behind it. I’m assuming maybe a previous owner or someone had the cross brace off and just reinstalled it wrong. This was an issue because that line pressed up against some of the fins on the cooler and I didn’t want it eventually ending up rubbing a hole in the cooler causing a leak. So I ended up sliding the cooler all the way over to the left side/passenger side I found that this gave me the most clearance so that center cross brace wouldn’t push up against the cooler. This also allowed me to use the existing bolts/screws on the left side used to hold AC condenser in to attach two of the metal brackets to and then run them to the cooler itself. On the right side I ended up just using some zip ties running them through the mounting holes on the cooler and then running that through some holes on the cross brace. I would like to add some metal brackets on the side but looks like I’m going to have to drill some holes in that cross brace or find a way to bend the metal brackets in a way that it will work. Anyway anyone else experienced this and how did you end up mounting yours and then what location. Just wanted to get a better idea of someone that has actually done this on a first GEN Tacoma. Thanks.

 

These are the lines I’m talking about on the right side/driver side directly in front of the AC condenser.

 

I installed a cooler on the left side in front of the AC condenser. I have a 99, so my bumper actually has less space behind it than yours. It was a tight fit on mine, but should be easier on yours.

I flipped the "cable clamp" mount for the AC line that runs in front to push it out away from the condenser to allow the cooler to fit behind it.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tiffany-the-taco.374490/page-8#post-15903947

 

Location of where I ended up mounting the cooler.

 

Same as @nzbrock

 

I see you went in front of the AC line. I couldn't do that with the 1999 bumper. My cooler is actually wedged against the bumper.

 

Thanks for your reply looks like mine is pretty much mounted in the same location. Good idea flipping that cable clamp mount for the AC line to push it away from the condenser. I ended up adding some washers behind that bolt holding the line on and then adding some extra tubing around the line just for abrasion protection so it wouldn’t rub up against the cooler. Also thanks for the link I’ll check it out.

 

I made a bracket to hold the cooler I front of those lines with some aluminum angle and 3/4” square tube I had left over from a precious project.

 

I see your AC line is in front of the vertical brace. Was it like that stock or did you pull the brace out and put it behind the line? I might have to do that on mine.

 

Mine was originally running behind that vertical brace. I looked on a friends truck and his was running in front of it so I removed that brace and reinstalled it so it was behind that AC line. I’m second-guessing that now though if that line is originally supposed to be running behind that vertical brace not in front of it. For my purposes it was better to remove that brace and put it behind the line because that AC line was being pushed up against the fins on the cooler and I didn’t want that to end up rubbing and eventually Wearing a hole in the cooler.

 

I had a couple questions for you I noticed that your AC line is running behind that vertical brace. I ended up removing that vertical brace and putting it behind the AC line. This was because I didn’t want that AC line rubbing up against the cooler wearing a hole in it. I am assuming there’s a small gap between that AC line and your cooler or have you looked at that? Also did this because after looking at a friends truck The line on his truck ran in front of that brace not behind it. Also noticed that you and @Shortman5 have your coolers mounted with the ports facing to the left or with the cooler turned over. I’m assuming this was so it was just easier to run the lines? I have mine mounted so the ports are facing to the right/driver side of the truck. I guess it’s six is as long as you have enough line to attach everything. Just was wondering why you guys chose to mount it that way?

 

@Shortman5 Your truck has the AC lines on the right side as well right? Like the ones I have in the picture circled in red. I’m assuming that’s one of the reasons why you chose to mount it on the left side because those lines are in the way on the right? Thanks for your reply.

 

@nzbrock hey sorry I noticed that you asked me about that AC line Location running in front of the vertical brace not behind it then I asked you about yours as well. My bad.

 

Yes, I’m fairly certain that is correct.

 

@zero4 has one of the best write-ups for installing a transmission cooler on the 1st gen. Take a look -
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hayden-transmission-oil-cooler-install.108470/

For those running an ARB bumper, his install will not work as the L bar pushes the cooler out just a bit too far and it contacts the bumper. For any other aftermarket bumper, especially tubular I imagine it'll be fine.

Here's a shot of how I installed mine. Ended up using

$22 Hayden Automotive 253 Metal Mounting Bracket Kit

Hayden's mount kit but it worked out fine. Orientation is flow goes in from the bottom barb, out through the top. I did not bypass the radiator so the flow is into the radiator cooler ---> out of radiator cooler and into a Magnafine filter ---> into the Hayden cooler (lower barb) ---> and out the top barb back to the transmission.




Oh and FWIW, trying to plan out placement takes the longest amount of time for this install. I swear I hassled with it for at least 2 days trying to figure the best way to set up that mount kit and attach to the vertical brace.

 

Mine was definitely behind that vertical brace from the beginning. I never even considered putting it in front. I doubt you'd have issues either way. I'm pretty sure mine is rubbing on a lot of things, so who knows how long it will last.

 

Yeah I originally thought about just putting a extra piece of tubing over the line for some abrasion protection. I ended up taking off that brace it wasn’t too hard as I have an aftermarket bumper that allows me enough room behind it to get to the lower 10 mm bolt.

 

Thanks for posting this I basically did the same thing except I have yet to drill some holes in the cross brace I think that will be the easiest way because the pre-drilled holes on the heat and cooler would line up to them and then I can just run a bolt through there to secure it. Appreciate your response

 

I don't recall if I had to drill into the center support but the kit definitely made it easier. Using it, you can articulate the 'arms' into an angle that fits.

$22 Hayden Automotive 253 Metal Mounting Bracket Kit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HE6H9W

local parts store should have it as well.

 

Thought I would add to this thread that I got my transmission cooler all mounted up and The lines all hooked up. I ended up doing mine A little bit differently where I have the ports facing to the right or the driver side of the truck. I found that this was a little bit easier at least for me to run both lines. Instead of running the line that connects to the bottom port down and all the way across to the driver side where it connects to the bottom port on the right side of the radiator I just ran the line directly over to the driver side and ended up drilling a pre-existing hole out a little larger to fit the line down through it directly to where it connects on the radiator. The top line goes down through the hole for the AC lines and connects to the hard return line. I’m running a Hayden 699 in-line with the cooler in the radiator paired with a scan gauge 2. Temps are mid to high 140’s around town 160’s to highest I’ve seen so far 173 at 75 mph on the freeway.