So I have a 96 1500 4wd
It has the 46re? In it and on e of the hoses heading into the radiator are leaking, looking at changine the filter and fluid, taking the lines from the rafiator running an filter and another cooler and throwing a temperature gauge in the mix somewhere

Where would be a good place to mount the gauge, before or after the cooler or in the pan?
Before cooler seems like a good idea cause it's "real" temperature unaltered the gauge would be seeing what the trandmission is seeing, but after the cooler would be good to see too to see how well the coolers are cooling


Another thought is swap to a manual radiator, plum in the aftermarket cooler and filter. Eliminate the transmission heating the coolant or vice versa

 

The PCM knows what trans temp is..... getting it to tell you is the real trick..... But, for a gauge, putting the sensor as close to where the fluid comes out of the trans (line toward the front) is best. Tells you what temp the trans is operating at. (or pretty close) I think diesel resource has neat little clamps for the temp sending unit, so you don't have to cut the line. Otherwise, an appropriate sized T fitting that the sensor will fit into would be the hot ticket.

Get rid of the check valve in the line going to the lower fitting on the radiator. (part of the rubber flex line there.) There are a selection of DIY's in the DIY section here for just such an occasion.

Change the fluid and filter, and adjust the bands. Procedure is in the service manual, or, If you browse thru MonteC's trans thread, he has his own favored adjustments in there. (which I would definitely trust.)

There is such a thing as "over cooling" as well..... so, consider a thermostatic bypass valve for your coolers too.

 

Was thinking about cutting the hard lines and flaring them, I actually read the transmission thread a few minutes ago. Seen that keeping the stock cooler would help not over cool in the winter

 

The stock cooler also helps heat the transmission fluid in the winter by routing the lines through the radiator.

 

What helps the transmission fluid in the winter is the stock cooler as it routs the lines through the radiator.

 

There's also changing out the governor solenoid. There's a company that makes a retrofit to a GM unit, but now there is also simply a larger stock one available.

 

Borg Warner makes the heavy duty governor pressure solenoid. It's cheaper than the GM conversion, by about 50%...... Don't know if it's any more reliable or not. GM version has the advantage of being self-cleaning.... which the stock pieces do not. Not sure if the BW version does that trick or not.

 

Check valve delete, bigger cooler, shift kit (transgo Jr or sonnax sure cure, also allows pumping in park).

As for temp gauge, glowshift makes a fitting to tie into factory test port on the passenger side of the case right above the pan. Or you can also get an aftermarket pan like mine (B&M) that has a port cast right into the driverside of the pan AND has a drain plug as well to make maintenance easier

 

Alright, what's the difference between the gas and diesel versions of the 46re, and tube cooler vs finned

 

No difference between gas and diesel because diesel don't use 46re. Are you asking about pans or coolers?