I’m in the process of rebuilding my transmission for my 1998 Dakota R/T, and since excessive heat was detrimental to the longevity of the unit, I decided to upgrade the transmission cooler. I also decided to beef up the radiator support center brace since it is intended to make that portion of the frame more rigid, and I have seen distortion in that area under torsional loads of various vehicles. It will also be used as a mounting platform for the transmission cooler. Along with larger DOM steel tube, I also added a bottom cross bar to enhance strength. Triangulation of design is very strong. I then welded on tabs in which to mount a 28,000 GVW stacked plate transmission cooler. The back of the cooler is about 2.5” from the front surface of the radiator, so it should not interfere with the cooling of the radiator. I do not intend on using the A/C so it will be removed. I may also have to modify the radiator overflow bottle since I added the bottom bar of the brace. Still have to plumb it but this is the basic design.
Stock radiator support center brace and transmission cooler. Not identical to OEM but came with replacement radiator. (A little dusty too. )
Beefed up radiator support center brace.
Beefed up radiator support center brace with transmission cooler mounting tabs.
Assembly with cooler attached.