gbarmore

I need to get my new 2004R cooling lines run and bought a set of stainless hardlines from the trans vendor that were supposedly custom bent for the vette. You guessed it, they don't fit, not even close. So, i'll return them and I was thinking I'd run stainless braided PTFE lines from the trans to the radiator instead. Question is what size are the fittings that I need to hook up the lines to the trans? I'm guessing -6 AN but....

Any reason not to use braided stainless for this application?? Summit sells 20' of the stuff for less than I paid for 6' of hardline.

Thanks!

TimAT

No fan of braided hose- I've changed too many hydraulic lines in totally silly spots on large airplanes that were leaking. 3K PSI systems there.

That said, make sure the hose is rated at 2-1/2 times the max system pressure, and for the maximum temp the trans will see. (At 300*F the trans is going to have a meltdown)

Overall, it's pretty simple to bend and flare the brake tubing they sell at the parts stores. So easy that buying prefabricated lines makes no sense to me at all. Lars has a paper about making fuel lines.

eagle275

That's a roger on those hydraulic lines on planes (pigs). LOL!

gbarmore

TimAT, thanks for the info, I was kind of afraid someone would say this because I saw the braided as an easy kind of 'trick' way to plumb this up. Funny thing is that the lines I got from the Trans vendor run 2/3 of the way from the trans to the radiator, and the rest of the way via braided stainless. Are you suggesting that you would run 100%hard lines trans to cooler?

Thanks,
Greg

johnt365

Take a look at this site. I am thinking of other solutions to metal lines as well but have not pulled the trigger. The turbo buick guys all use the 200-4r and are almost all racers.

http://turbobuick.com/forums/threads.../#post-2673226

http://turbobuick.com/forums/threads...2/#post-295164

http://turbobuick.com/forums/threads.../#post-3103834

You can bookmark this page for future searches and deep dives...
http://turbobuick.com/forums/forums/...ssion-talk.12/

gbarmore

Great links Johnt365, thanks! I feel reasonably comfortable with the stainless line setup based on all that reading and may go that route. A common theme was making sure to buy quality hose and fittings, something I would do anyway.

Greg

TimAT

IIRC, GM used steel for all but the last 12 inches or so of the cooler lines. They used a rubber hose from in front of the right control arm(s) to the radiator and then short metal tubes from the radiator. Got to have some flex in there.

If you go with the braided hose, make sure it's temperature, pressure and fluid compatible, and clamp it down so it won't get into anything. Flex hoses have a way of moving on their own and rubbing against anything electrical or sharp.