External cooler write-up questions

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Was reading this write-up http://www.turbobuicks.com/articles/FBody_Radiator/ and noticed he said the X bars on the radiator support aren't necessary. Why. Would they have put them there if they weren't? Don't they prevent flex in that area? My trans cooler is zip tied to those X supports. Any good ideas for my oil cooler? Where should I install that?

 

[earlbrown]

I got rid of one of the braces. Used adel clamps to mount the tranny cooler and pop riveted a piece of metal out of a big screen TV for the oil cooler.

 

[87geeinn]

That's my article. It's possible they help with some stability of the front core support but I can tell you I still have no negative effects, even to this day. Daily driver, 107k+ miles on the body.

 

[Pronto]

In general the TB frame is weak. The front cross braces in the core support can only help. I retained them and also have the cross brace along the bottom. Front mount intercoolers eliminate the supports from what I've seen too. I think I would leave them unless you have a reason to have to take them off.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

I see.

 

[earlbrown]

If you're worried about keeping extra strength there, removing one brace won't hurt a thing. You'll still have two big triangles there.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Cool. If I even need to. We'll see when I get the new coolers