2004R cooler line fitting question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
2004R cooler line fitting question
I'm putting together my parts list for converting my 79's TH350 to a Bowtie 2004R. When I dropped out the old tranny, I could'nt get the cooler lines loose and had to cut the lines. Bowtie sells a replacement cooler line set but $129 I'm thinking I could just splice into my old lines if I knew what size fittings I needed for the 2004R. Does anyone know what size fittings I need?
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
When fitting my 200 one of the cooler lines was OK but the other was in a bit of a mess. I just went to a mechanic I know & "borrowed" a fitting from him & made up a new line. I would have thought that a garage would be able to supply fittings for you?
As a Bubba question, when I was scrabbling about trying to bend the new line to shape, this thought occured to me (I don't get many thoughts, that's why I remember them when I do
). The cooler lines are metal right up to where they connect to the rad. Mine has two short lengths of metal pipe coming from the rad & the cooler lines join to them via short lengths of rubber pipe (the correct fluid resistant stuff) clamped with hose clamps. As there's rubber hose in the system (& has been for a long time) then why shouldn't I just extend them?? ie cut the metal pipe close to the trans, expand the end & then clamp a length of braided hose to it. I can then route the hose, however I want, up to the rad where I can clamp it to the pipes going into the rad. Is this method OK, or is there a hint of Bubba about it? 
As a Bubba question, when I was scrabbling about trying to bend the new line to shape, this thought occured to me (I don't get many thoughts, that's why I remember them when I do
). The cooler lines are metal right up to where they connect to the rad. Mine has two short lengths of metal pipe coming from the rad & the cooler lines join to them via short lengths of rubber pipe (the correct fluid resistant stuff) clamped with hose clamps. As there's rubber hose in the system (& has been for a long time) then why shouldn't I just extend them?? ie cut the metal pipe close to the trans, expand the end & then clamp a length of braided hose to it. I can then route the hose, however I want, up to the rad where I can clamp it to the pipes going into the rad. Is this method OK, or is there a hint of Bubba about it?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
can't you reuse the old fittings? thats what i did on the 700r4?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by marshrat99
I couldn't get the old fittings disconnected from the tranny and ended up cutting the lines. Now that the Th350 is on the ground, maybe I can get some better leverage. If they're "standard" fittings, then my plans are to just get a new set made at hopely less expense that the Bowtie price.
