Striped Radiator Transmission Line.. Help
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
Striped Radiator Transmission Line.. Help
Hello, I bought a new radiator for my 1979 Vette and installed it without much of an issue.. However, when I installed the top transmission line to the radiator, I stripped the damn insert out on the new radiator..
What can I do to repair this? Weld the line on, re-thread it, am I screwed? Thanks for any suggestions!
What can I do to repair this? Weld the line on, re-thread it, am I screwed? Thanks for any suggestions!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Fla. 6 months- New Middletown, Ohio 6 months
The best thing to do is to remove it and take it to a reputable radiator shop. They can replace the fitting or recommend where to take it if the tank is aluminum and they do not have TIG welding capability.
All is not lost. Always hated working with these fittings. I always liked the type of fitting that I believe either Toyota or Honda developed that had a extended shank on it that insured that it was aligned correctly before you started to tightened.
All is not lost. Always hated working with these fittings. I always liked the type of fitting that I believe either Toyota or Honda developed that had a extended shank on it that insured that it was aligned correctly before you started to tightened.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,234
Likes: 19
From: Freestate Corvette Club! Elkridge, MD
St. Jude Donor '17
That sucks. Depending on how bad you stripped it you can run the correct size tap through it and see if you can clean up the threads enough. Other than that you will prob have to get that fixed at a radiator shop - no biggie just a pain. FWIW That is VERY easy to do.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 86
From: Rotonda FL
Those fittinga are a PITA. After struggling with them I tore out all of the transmission lines and replaced everything with AN6 fittings, adapters and 3/8 line. The larger diameter line gives increased flow volume and the AN fittings are MUCH easier to use and access
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
Thanks guys for the advice, and for making me feel better by letting me know I am not alone... I felt like such a dumb ***!!! I was scared to bring the radiator back to the shop I got it at for fear they would let me know what an idiot I am..
Anyway I took it in.
They, like I tried to see if they could rethread the thing.. They are going to try and weld it.. One guy did not look too confident as he is worried that welding might cause some weld to flow inside of the channel and cause a blockage.. Hopefully it works out..
I still feel like an idiot.. It is just so tight trying to get that thing on.. I was not able to put that top one on first, ie., before I installed the radiator because there was no room. So I took it off, and once the radiator was installed I tried to re-attach it. That is when I stripped it..
ARGH... I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again!
Anyway I took it in.
They, like I tried to see if they could rethread the thing.. They are going to try and weld it.. One guy did not look too confident as he is worried that welding might cause some weld to flow inside of the channel and cause a blockage.. Hopefully it works out..
I still feel like an idiot.. It is just so tight trying to get that thing on.. I was not able to put that top one on first, ie., before I installed the radiator because there was no room. So I took it off, and once the radiator was installed I tried to re-attach it. That is when I stripped it..
ARGH... I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again!
