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  1. Layers of Cooling - Transmission Cooler R&D, Part 3: Testing

    Layers of Cooling - Transmission Cooler R&D, Part 3: Testing

    Trying something new can be a daunting, especially when you're changing something you've done well for a long time. In the case of our 2014+ Chevy/GMC K2 transmission cooler, the design of the stock transmission cooler had us stepping off the beaten path in search of the best possible solution.

    In our previous posts, we discussed the design of the stock cooler that's integrated with the A/C condenser and how we would be adding an external cooler to supplement it. We had our core (the same one that we used on our Duramax project) mounted behind the grille of our volunteer K2, but we had no way of getting transmission fluid. This is where we really

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  2. Layers of Cooling - Transmission Cooler R&D, Part 2: Prototype

    Layers of Cooling - Transmission Cooler R&D, Part 2: Prototype

    The second post in any of our project blogs is usually where we show you an aluminum box that represents the outer dimensions of our planned product. This time though, we're going rogue.

    Sort of.

    Our last post looked at the stock transmission cooler for Chevy/GMC's K2 chassis. To recap, the stock K2 transmission cooler is a bit of a chimera. If you were to look through the grille of a K2, you would never find the transmission cooler. Unlike other vehicles that have an obvious transmission cooler bolted onto the radiator, the K2 trans cooler is integrated into the truck's A/C condenser. Removing the A/C condenser from the vehicle doesn't make finding the transmission cooler any easier either. Only under close inspection can you see the break in the end-tank where the factory separated the two coolers. Otherwise, the A/C condenser and the transmission cooler share the similar tubes and fins, but

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  3. Comfortable Cooling - Radiator R&D, Part 2: Test & Produce

    Comfortable Cooling - Radiator R&D, Part 2: Test & Produce

    This 2014+ Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 1500 V8 Radiator is now on pre-sale! Click here to check it out!

    Up until now, our 2014+ K2 Silverado radiator has been nothing more than a simple set of goals: create a direct-fit radiator that's larger, and stronger, than the stock radiator. After measuring the radiator and its home in the engine bay, we began working on our replacement.

    Like many of our products, this radiator started life on a computer monitor. Jason took his measurements from the stock radiator and created a 3D model that would serve as the template for our prototype. Once the model was complete, we could transfer it to our 3D printer to begin the rapid prototyping process.

    MM5148_3D

    As

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  4. Comfortable Cooling - Radiator R&D, Part 1: Stock Review

    Comfortable Cooling - Radiator R&D, Part 1: Stock Review

    The latest generation of Chevy and GM trucks has become something of an every-truck. The earlier GMT800 and 900 trucks were dependable workhorses, built to be at home on the farm or the jobsite. When the K2 platform was introduced in 2014, the heart of the work truck remained, but it was wrapped in leather and luxury. Ascending into a K2 truck and settling into the captain's seat might as well be finding your favorite chair in the local cigar club circa 1940. Comfort distilled with the satisfaction of a day's hard work.

    _MG_7268

    Sitting in a K2 is one of the most comfortable experiences you'll have in a truck or SUV, which will be good if you ever find yourself waiting for a tow truck as your radiator drips the last of its coolant onto the hard shoulder.

    Thanks to an over-active thermostat, many K2

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