Grill Removal...

[johnboneske]

I want to remove the grill and measure for a new external Trans cooler, so I get the biggest one I can fit into it. How do you remove the grill. I have read that I have to remove the whole front bumper/clip and also that all I have to remove is the grill itself. I found I have to remove the top plastic piece in the engine compartment, and then see two tabs that hold the grill in, but dont see/feel anything to remove after that to gain access. Please help!

 

[Enigma346]

There are little clips behind it on the sides and bottom. I believe there are like 4-5. Kind of irritated me honestly. I also believe they looked like this.

 

[johnboneske]

So, do I have to remove the whole front end, or can I just remove the grill and those clips?

 

[Big Brian]

you dont have to take the grill off completley

take the shroud off that covers the top of the radiator and then remove the fasteners for the top of the grill then just tip to top of it forward. There is enough room in there to work.

I stuck a piece of wood in there to hold it open so I could get my hands in there

Thats what I did anyway

this was on my 08 yours may be different but I would try that first

 

[Enigma346]

So, do I have to remove the whole front end, or can I just remove the grill and those clips?

All I did was remove the clips and the grill. Never removed anything but the shield above it.

 

[Enigma346]

you dont have to take the grill off completley

take the shroud off that covers the top of the radiator and then remove the fasteners for the top of the grill then just tip to top of it forward. There is enough room in there to work.

I stuck a piece of wood in there to hold it open so I could get my hands in there

Thats what I did anyway

this was on my 08 yours may be different but I would try that first

I agree. There is a lot of room behind it. I had to take mine off and reseat it correctly because the last owner obviously couldn't.

 

[Hamfisted]

I know you don't have to remove the front clip, that's for sure. I swapped out my stock honeycomb grill for an aftermarket aluminum one when I first bought the Expy (new ...) and I know I didn't remove the front clip. I did remove the front clip to install mounting bolts for my WAAG push bar, but that's because the 2 wheel drive models don't have the tow hooks that the 4x4s do, and that's what the bar would normally mount up to. But if you're going to all the trouble to mount a huge tranny cooler, look at swapping out the stock tranny pan for an aftermarket high capacity aluminum pan. I did that when it was new too, along with a tranny temp gauge that I added to the lower dash area (the sending unit is in the side of the reservoir...). Honestly, even towing my 6,000 lb boat the tranny fluid never got over 180 degrees, and that is in south Florida's heat. So the stock tranny cooler is pretty good for most applications. I do use Mobil One tranny fluid though. Not sure if that makes a difference or not. The aftermarket ( PML ) tranny pan has a drain plug too. I think it holds an extra gallon of fluid.

-Mike


https://www.yourcovers.com/transpan_9685.php

 

[Big Brian]

I agree my trans temp isnt any different when I am pulling my 24ft Grady White then when not monitoring with an OBDII device

 

[johnboneske]

I already have a trans cooler like this... is this enough? Its on the passenger side, lower next to the power steering cooler. Mine is about 10"Wx6"T

https://www.1aauto.com/transmission-oil-cooler-dorman-918-212/i/1atrl00079?f=645236&y=2003

Or should I ad another? I pull around 6500, its a travel trailer(dry weight is a 5800). The GVWR is 7600, but I never tow with water or grey/black water in it. I live in Ohio too...