briankeery

Hey Guys,

I'm new to your forum, and fairly new to Vette ownership also, and have a question about my automatic transmission cooling lines that come off the rad.
I recently finished a cooling system flush that included replacing the rad cap and the lower rad hose (fun times!!!!!). In the process of replacing this hose, I noticed that both the inlet and outlet lines for the tranny had a piece of rubber tubing (resembling fuel line?) spliced into the stainless. These two "splices" are about 12"-18" in length and are routed down under the vehicle where they again meet up with the stainless lines that goes to the tranny. These splices are pretty well pooched and leaking fluid. I just had the tranny serviced when I bought the car - so I'm also kinda pissed at my mechanic for not bringing this to my attention.
My question is two-fold:
1) Is this a factory way of installing these lines - I ask because my good old 1981 Z-28 had this same powertrain; and the lines were solid from transmission to radiator. I know this since I had to cut them in fact to install a tranny cooler years ago in my college days.

2) If this is in fact the way it's designed; I'm assuming I can replace the "inlet" or "outlet" lines from the rad as individual units (since they appear to be slightly kinked). Am I then to assume I should be using a rubber tubing specific for transmission fluid? Obviously fuel line would be crap.

Any help/advice in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Some might think I'm being kind of **** about such a small leak - especially on a 32 year old car, but I hate seeing spots on the driveway - to me fluids are supposed to stay with the car!!!

Thanks in advance - all the best to you all

Brian

MelWff

Looking at the parts vendors, the car does use rubber lines after the steel fittings in the radiator.

briankeery

Thanks Mel,

That being said then I can only assume some "butcher" installed these rubber lines, as they certainly don't look like a factory part. Ends look like they were cut with a butter knife!!!

Easy Mike

Yes. The assembly instruction manual (AIM) shows the installaton and (sometimes, depending on model year) has a note about correct routing.

Yes. Designed that way.

The metal lines probably do not need to be replaced. Only the rubber extensons. Cut the replacements a little bit longer than the old ones you take off.

The "butcher" you are looking for might have been someone on the assembly line using his pocket knife to cut the hoses from bulk.

briankeery

Thanks Mike,

The upper line (output?) seems to have a slight kink in it, so for piece of mind, I'd like to replace that one. After all it can't be that much.

The hose I'm assuming is a specialised piece of tubing.

tonak

Local auto parts store will have the correct hose, I just need to figure out how in the heck you can even get to them to change them.

briankeery

Well, I just ordered the AIM on CD from eBay....so that should be a good start.

hunt4cleanair

Brian

I'm in processing of repairing the radiator on my 78 and have gone through a similar process as you have...examining the hookup between radiator and tranny lines.

Yes indeed, as others have indicated, rubber hoses were used from a radiator steel port tube to the steel lines underneath the engine. In fact, vendors sell a kit with the correct rubber hose intended for tranny fluid. All of which is documented in the AIM...I even went to the extent to determine the original clamp used. the kits have a correct style clamp. Think I got mine from Paragon...I have them the hardest time...not believing it was rubber. Felt I owed them my sale after researching this and concluding they were correct.


I picked up new fittings with the shortened pipes for the radiator and, as referenced above, got a kit with correct tranny fluid rubber.

Not at all. Most of use share your penchant for detail

travelerbob

Yep the rubber lines were to prevent metal lines from breaking from engine torque.
I've done it not to bad unless you have FAT hands.