Lars knows what he is talking about. Don't mess around with this. It is a nasty job to try and fix after you get everything back together.
tranny cooler lines on TH350
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: SAN ANTONIO TX
tranny cooler lines on TH350
Putting my 81 back together and cant find the lines/fittings to the cooler on the radiator. Has anyone ever fabbed their own? If so, what size are they. How did you build them? I think AN fittings would work. How did you connect to the stock hard line? Most I've seen pics of show that they leak when using rubber line and standard hose clamps.
Thx
Thx
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
The fittings are 5/16 inverted flare. AN fittings will leak at the radiator connection. The original tubes in the radiator had rolled flare ends so the hose would not slip off under pressure. Today, you can get 5/16 hose that is identified as "Trans Cooler". While it won't last forever, it is made to withstand the heat, pressure, and the type of oil. IIRC, the lower tube is a short straight section and the upper one is curved and points down. They connect to a short rubber section, then again to the hard lines that run back thru the right lower control arm to the engine and back to the trans.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,382
Likes: 6,401
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
I can't find the lines/fittings to the cooler on the radiator. Has anyone ever fabbed their own? If so, what size are they. How did you build them? I think AN fittings would work. How did you connect to the stock hard line? Most I've seen pics of show that they leak when using rubber line and standard hose clamps.
Complete reproduction line sets with the fittings are available from all of the major Vette part suppliers. Just order them, wait 2 days for delivery, and install the right stuff.
If you really want to fab your own, the fittings are standard inverted flares, available at any NAPA store.
Lars
Last edited by lars; Nov 15, 2013 at 09:00 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: SAN ANTONIO TX
My fear is that the hose will leak using standard hose clamps. I saw where you can pick up the fittings etc for 30 bux from most vendors but like I mentioned earlier, most of the ones I've seen leak at the clamp. Not sure if that is mostly due to age, wrong clamp or combination of both. I'd like to not do it over, especially while the front end is apart and access is fairly easy.
Thx
Kevin
Thx
Kevin
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,382
Likes: 6,401
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Lars
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
I'm just finishing a non-Corvette project using the adapters to go to AN lines. I'll be using flex lines to the chassis and connecting to hardlines there.
It's an expen$ive way to do it with no real benefits.
It's an expen$ive way to do it with no real benefits.
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