Thread: LT230 Transfercase Oil Cooler with pump

I'm after some advice on making an oil cooler for the LT230.

I normally have a Roamerdrive Overdrive fitted, but it's out at the moment for some bearing and synchro repairs. I already have the extended finned sump and an oil cooler on the R380.

I'm measuring gearbox temps with a TM2 on the gearbox casing.
Before the R380 cooler :

• In mild weather (low 20's) sitting at 110kph all day the gearbox sat at around 70.C.
• In hot weather (35-40.C) it only took 30min to get the box to 95.C @ 100+kph with slight climb.

Since fitting an oil cooler to the R38, the casing temp has never risen over 75.C whatever the weather. The R380 will act as a heatsink for the LT230, and I'm sure stress points get hotter than an external casing gauge will indicate

I am thinking of further cooling the LT230 to reduce heat for the overdrive.

I was wondering if a facet pump would pump gear oil - I'm using 75-85W Full synthetic so it flows better than traditional sludge. I was talking to Ray Wood from Roamerdrive today and he said that someone in the UK was using a facet pump for an additional oil cooler on 101 auto conversions.

My idea is to tap into the temp sender recess on the extended sump, and use a helicoil so I don't strip an aluminium thread, and place an oil pick up there. Then fit a right angle elbow to the filler hole in the transfercase and pipe from the pick up, via a pump and small radiator back to the fill hole.

The facet pump will transfer 6lpm, so the whole oil can be run through the cooler twice a minute.

I'm thinking that if I put a T-Piece in line I can fit a low pressure alarm, so I don't drive with all my oil gone in the event of a system failure.

Other things could be an in-line filter.

Any thoughts? Has anyone done this? Any alternatives?

Pricing components looks like I can get it done for under $200

Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by pjh4159

I have done exactly what has been discussed here, fitted a 12 volt bronze gear pump with additional finned cylinder type oil cooler tapped into larger LT230 Roamerdrive sump for the outlet then through a new finned oil cooler via pump and returning to the top of the Roamerdrive unit. temps previously 100C transfer case oil temps at highway speeds now 75C with low volume pump around 1.5 ltrs per minute. I am considering a slightly higher pump flow which should reduce temps a little more, the pump is switched by a thermostat turning on at 70C.

I would appreciate if you could put up some part numbers or pm me details of pump, Baz