1993 Q45a Radiator in a 1990 Q45T?

[dusred]

Hi everyone!

I'm somewhat new to Nico. I've been a lurker for a long time and now I have a question and needed to join to ask.

I recently received a used Radiator from another Nico member. He said that it would work on a 1990 Q45.

In installing it I noticed that there are 4 places where lines go in (2 are transmission cooling lines and the other 2 i'm assuming are cooling lines for the active suspension) and on the old radiator there is only 2 places where small lines go in, which are the transmission cooling lines.

So my question: Is there any way to just abandon the 2 extra lines that go to the active suspension on the previous car?

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[maxnix]

I am thinking you have a 1994 or later radiator which had two ATF heat exchange tanks that were fedd after the esternal filter feed branched.

In LV, you really want an external ATF cooler like a B&M70268 or 70264.

[dusred]

Thanks Brain.

I have never had overheating problems before and I do mostly highway driving so I don't think overheating is going to be an issue. I know the external ATF cooler is a good idea but I'm not ready to make that kind of an investment right now but I may want to down the road.

So is there any way to just make this one work?

[maxnix]

Yes, you could adapt the external filter and bracket and hose from the later series. Or just do a Y. Since you have cold winters, it might be wise to run an external ATF cooler in series with the twin ATF heat exchangers.

But a B&M cooler is about $50 and .5 hours of labor to install. Considering it will cost you $4K to have your transmission switched out and an external ATF cooler (which you need in LV summer heat, mountain and high speed driving) along with regular mechanical fluid exchanges can extend transmission life 50% easily.

[dusred]

There is one more problem I just ran into. . . on the 93 radiator the temperature sensor is in a different location. Do I just need to get the sensor out of other car or is there a way I can make my old one work?

[maxnix]

Got me there. Not that familiar with the early G50. If you do have a later radiator, you might look at the matching temperature sender.