j_shay

See I couldn't find one anywhere I'm looking for a 518 o.d. trans do you have one mine has a 727 3speed and its killing me

E.Roy

Resurrecting this thread because there's lots of good feedback and input.
So the guys towing with 5 speed trans up long passes attest that the radiator can't keep up with the Cummins. This leads me to the conclusion that the heat exchanger is adding to load on the radiator, which already can't cope. I have a 20,500 BTU B&M cooler with 1/2" lines I'd like to fit in place of the tiny stock front cooler which is leaking anyway. I feel the stock HE is not good when towing since its reported the radiator is the weak link. My A518 works fine when it's really cold and engine isnt warm, so im thinking I might eliminate the HE.

One thing someone already noted, look down in your radiator for calcium deposits robbing flow, I'm replacing mine because of this, I tried soaking with vinegar, which didn't work, I heard CLR might, but the rad is sketchy and it was time for a new one.

bernhard85

oh it fails more than you would think i have replaced both on my two trucks one is a 2003 ram 2500 5.9 cummins cr and the other is a 2004 ram 2500 5.9 cummins cr and they failed on both trucks and cost me together around 10k in damage/rebuilds for the trannys.. both had to be rebuild and my whole cooling system had to be flushed out in both trucks etc it was costly and i do most of my own work unless i'm in a hurry with my company.. so if you dont eliminate it at-least change it so you know its new and then you can sleep good at night for at-least a few years... i bought two backups for my trucks and i am going to take one of them off and swap it out and pressure test it to see what kind of wear they get after two years so i can gauge when ill be needing to change them .. its a wear item as far as i'm concerned