Power steering cooler: PS vs Transmission cooler?

[switchblade327]

I'm trying to plan out my power steering and hydraboost system and need a little help.

One tricky thing about my setup ('55 Bel Air) is that I have a Concept One steering box, which is pretty much right against one of the header tubes so I definitely want to run a cooler. It also has a remote reservoir on the passenger side of the block (LT1 with Corvette accessories) but I don't see this mattering except in routing the return line.

I've been digging through old threads about power steering coolers and learned a lot of the important stuff that's been repeated here (tubular, not flat, return line only, etc) and have a good idea of what to do but there are three questions I'm left with:

1)Some of you have said a dedicated power steering cooler doesn't flow enough and I should use a transmission cooler instead. Could someone explain why? Is this true of all PS coolers? It seems strange that no PS cooler would be up to it's intended task. At the same time, with hydraboost and my steering box getting constantly cooked by the header, I am looking for an overkill cooling solution.

So what is wrong with say, this PS unit:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/AFCO-Power-Steering-Fluid-Cooler,41118.html

Versus this transmission one:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/AFCO-Inline-Transmission-Cooler,39845.html

2) Should I also be looking to shield the steering box from the header somehow? I have no idea what would even fit.

3)Power steering filters. Someone on another forum had a story about a power steering (and thus, brakes) failure with a hydraboost and recommended a cooler AND a filter. It makes sense why you would want to filter the line but is there any disadvantage? Is this a normal thing to run and if so, what kind of filter should I look for?

[silver69camaro]

It really depends on the purpose of the car. Coolers can restrict the flow of the system, which can cause pump catch, cavitation, and pump damage. But if you are just driving around on the street, you'll be fine.

I really don't know much about trans coolers. I worry about flow because those coolers are under pressure, so the fluid is forced through by the trans pump. In a power steering application, the cooler is on the suction side of the pump - definetely not an ideal situation. So it's very important the cooler can flow as much as possible with minimal restriction. I've seen the coolers you listed and they seem like they should flow well, it's the tube/fin or stacked plate that I worry about.

[1969CamaroRS]

This is what I used Perma-Cool 1002. Had -6 AN ends on it but the tube is big enough for -8 which is what I put on there.

Looks like Jegs/Summit only carries the hose barb one but should able to take those off and put -8 AN ends on it with the right NPT to AN adapter:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Perma-Cool/771/1001/10002/-1
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/7711001-1.jpg

Installed pics:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/CoolingSystem030-1.jpg

In my case I had to mount all the coolers a bit low to clear the hood latch and RS doors.

[switchblade327]

Thanks guys, especially Matt for the explanation of the downsides. The car will mostly be street driven but I'd like it to be able to handle at least some autocrossing.

What about filters? I found these filtered tanks from another thread and I think they definitely count as overkill.
http://www.appletonrackandpinion.com/38323.html

But I'm not sure it's necessary to go that far when my car will be driven aggressively sometimes but definitely isn't going to be a race car.

[1969CamaroRS]

Same here, mostly a street car but I do want to do track days, so wired a cooler in.

The inline cooler from Appleton Rack and Pinion looks interesting. I saw a number of those types when I was looking for mine but went with the Perma-cool one because I had a perfect spot for it.

[Roadbuster]

I have the same one as Ed with the -6 AN fittings. Here is mine installed.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
I think I need a larger one. The hydroboost and the PS do put a lot of heat into the fluid.