The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Saw a guy yesterday about getting a rototiller, and he happened to have a basement full of mopar parts for sale. One of these parts was a Power Steering Cooler he said was only on T/A Challengers, said it was a real rare piece. The cooler looks like it just hooks into the lines on the return side, and its basically a piece of U tubing with fins.

Anyone know if this is a real option? Ive never heard of this before. I'll grab it if its the real deal.

I think they had them on hemi's too.

Haha well it may be overkill for a 318 but ill grab it. The guy had a 383 and a 400 too, so I think Ill have to scale my motor appropriately to my newfound power steering coolness.

[quote="Moparman1972"]its basically a piece of U tubing with fins. /quote]

That's exactly what it is. It's a genuine mopar option.
Had one on my R/T SE.
I don't know if it came originally with it though, or like your guy said, if that was a T/A specific item. I guess it could be a regular option, that might have been mandatory with the fast ratio steering that was available on T/As and AARs...

Barry would know.

Was it not part of one of the performance axle packages?

From an and:

NOS 69, 70, 71 Dodge or Plymouth B or E body power steering cooler for cars equipped with 383 or 440 engines, part number 2891 162.

From another ad:

NOS Correct/Original Chrysler/Mopar power steering pump cooler.Part #2891162.Fits Saginaw pump equipped 1969 1/2 A12 Roadrunner/Superbee,1970-1 440-4/440+6 Plymouth Cuda/Dodge Challenger,GTX/Roadrunner/Superbee?charger,etc. black finish and plugs.Date and/or vendor codes on the bracket are 3028 and 2758 Blisfield Type RC.

Thanks for the info, Christer! Haha, seems kind of overkill to have a power steering cooler. Even if you're racing on a track, I dont see it getting hot enough to do damage. Kinda like putting one of those rear end coolers on a stock vehicle.

well for some reason my car had one too, the old lady i bought it from i doubt she put it on , but they do work , , i have foamed plenty of ps units , and never have since i had this car !

I saw an ad on moparts a while back (like 10 days), someone is remanufacturing these. Around 320 USD.

fbernard wrote:I saw an ad on moparts a while back (like 10 days), someone is remanufacturing these. Around 320 USD.

For just the power steering cooler? That sounds expensive to me. It seems like you can buy a NOS power steering cooler for about the same amount.

I suggested earlier trhat this cooler might have been part of a package.

Anyone know what package it might have been part of?

One of the high performance axle packages? Maybe a towing package?

Of was it just standard on the T/A and Hemi and an optional extra on other cars?

I am interested because without knowing this we can't say which cars came with this from the factory and which had it added later.

my 440 6 pack car has this power steering cooler.
i have the A04 Radio Group option that includes the power steering,maybe when you ordered this group you would get it but not 100% sure.

dave-r wrote:I suggested earlier trhat this cooler might have been part of a package.

Anyone know what package it might have been part of?

One of the high performance axle packages? Maybe a towing package?

Of was it just standard on the T/A and Hemi and an optional extra on other cars?

A very good and intresting question. Why is not it possible to find anything written about this? I have not been able to find any info at all.

dave-r wrote:I suggested earlier trhat this cooler might have been part of a package.

Anyone know what package it might have been part of?

One of the high performance axle packages? Maybe a towing package?

Of was it just standard on the T/A and Hemi and an optional extra on other cars?

I am interested because without knowing this we can't say which cars came with this from the factory and which had it added later.

yes im kinda stumped about that part, my car was a 383 rt, 3:55 rear, auto ,ps,pb, no special parts that i know of , how ever dave i do have the fender tag if you want to read ill post a pic maybe there is something im not seeing as i definetly dont have a fender tag book ,but ill make a call or 2 and see what some other folks say

dave-r wrote:I suggested earlier trhat this cooler might have been part of a package.

Anyone know what package it might have been part of?

One of the high performance axle packages? Maybe a towing package?

Of was it just standard on the T/A and Hemi and an optional extra on other cars?

I am interested because without knowing this we can't say which cars came with this from the factory and which had it added later.

From the 1970-71 Parts manual:

Power steering cooler #2891241: W/318 and 340 Eng. W/3.54, 3.55 and 3.91 Axle ratio

Power steering cooler #2891162: W/383 and 440 Eng. W/3.54, 3.55, 3.91 and 4.10 Axle ratio

Thank you Christer.

So it looks as though I was right in my initial thought that it has something to do with the axle packages.

My guess now is that because the lower geared axles make the engine run at higher rpms the power steering pump must alo run at a higher rpm. So the cooler is needed.

That is something to think about if you intend to fit low axle gears but keep the stock power steering. They wouldn't have fitted the cooler for no reason.

dave-r wrote:Thank you Christer.

So it looks as though I was right in my initial thought that it has something to do with the axle packages.

My guess now is that because the lower geared axles make the engine run at higher rpms the power steering pump must alo run at a higher rpm. So the cooler is needed.

That is something to think about if you intend to fit low axle gears but keep the stock power steering. They wouldn't have fitted the cooler for no reason.

yes that makes sense,cool another question answered good job christer, and heck dave you knew it all along!

Well certainly dont pay 320 bucks for it. Just bend yourself a U and stick some milled plates on it. Ah, well maybe it looks simpler than it is.....

Anybody have pictures of how it mounts in the car? Where does that mounting tab go?

Fluid expands as it get hot, so at high engine RPMs in low geared cars the cooler was needed to keep the fluid from expanding too much and overflowing.

I think I have a photo of one mounted, back soon.....

This one is on an AAR;

here it is on my car, it did come on this car , but as you can see i have modified my engine area, but the cooler mounts the same

Moparman1972 wrote:Well certainly dont pay 320 bucks for it. Just bend yourself a U and stick some milled plates on it. Ah, well maybe it looks simpler than it is.....

Anybody have pictures of how it mounts in the car? Where does that mounting tab go?

it does mont up pretty simple. the hole in the mounting tab sandwiches between the bracket and the pump housing, and then you will have to cut some bits of powersteering hose to connect the lines with clamps, and check for leaks and your good to go,!

oh by the way those cooling fins they bite sometimes , as they are sharp so be careful!

Thanks for the pictures, guys! The cooling fins on mine are all loose, so it'll be a simple task to pull them all off and clean them up. (The cooler's pretty rusty.) Don't know how I'm going to hold them in place when it goes back on. Maybe I'll leave that to gravity!

we have that same option on the 1971 Convertible
but its a 340 !
You can see it on the right corner

Calderone wrote:we have that same option on the 1971 Convertible
but its a 340 !
You can see it on the right corner

Not much rain where you live, right? Judging from the photo, the windshield wipers are not in working order, or?