6.0 Transmission Cooler

[E-Man]

I did a search and couldn't find this topic. I just bought a brand new 6.0 trans cooler from Ebay after getting some incorrect info from another site and thinking it was the 31 row cooler (its part number 5C3Z-7A095-CA). Turns out it is the 26 row cooler. But I did some more digging and read from a few different sources that the 26 row cooler is actually the newer design and was made smaller than the 31 row cooler to allow more air to flow to the intercooler. Anybody else heard of this? I originally wanted the 31 row obviously because its bigger, but if Ford re-designed it into the 26 row im assuming they had a good reason.

[Karls03]

Originally Posted by E-Man

I did a search and couldn't find this topic. I just bought a brand new 6.0 trans cooler from Ebay after getting some incorrect info from another site and thinking it was the 31 row cooler (its part number 5C3Z-7A095-CA). Turns out it is the 26 row cooler. But I did some more digging and read from a few different sources that the 26 row cooler is actually the newer design and was made smaller than the 31 row cooler to allow more air to flow to the intercooler. Anybody else heard of this? I originally wanted the 31 row obviously because its bigger, but if Ford re-designed it into the 26 row im assuming they had a good reason.

Granted this is from a radiator back ground, but it may apply. As I recall, radiators are classified by fins per inch, if this is true going from 31 to 26 fins per inch inside the same size core could allow for better heat dissipation (more air can flow throw the same area). This is only a guess.

[E-Man]

At first I was disappointed that I bought the wrong cooler with some bad info, but after doing some more searching it looks like there isn't any trans temperature drop differences between the 26 and the 31 row cooler. Plus it can't hurt to have more air hitting the intercooler. Either way, I got it at a good price and will install it.