TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
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From: Ontario
TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines
For my new rad, where can I get the metal threaded fittings? And as the pic shows they connect to rubber hose. I believe that rubber hose has an ATF spec. What is it? Thanks!
[Modified by paul79, 7:50 PM 9/26/2002]
[Modified by paul79, 7:50 PM 9/26/2002]
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,990
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From: No longer a member
Re: TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines (paul79)
Paul,
Not sure if you want to keep everything original looking or not but Bow Tie Overdrives sells a nice set of braided hoses for the radiators that makes it MUCH easier to deal with, no busting your knuckles trying to tighten those rotten miniature clamps. It also comes with hard lines from the tranny. The braided lines have compression fittings for easy connecting & disconnecting. Here's a pic of them in case you're interested Braided Lines
If you want original I would imagine ZIP, Ecklers, Paragon, etc all carry them but I don't have any catalogs here at work.
Not sure if you want to keep everything original looking or not but Bow Tie Overdrives sells a nice set of braided hoses for the radiators that makes it MUCH easier to deal with, no busting your knuckles trying to tighten those rotten miniature clamps. It also comes with hard lines from the tranny. The braided lines have compression fittings for easy connecting & disconnecting. Here's a pic of them in case you're interested Braided Lines
If you want original I would imagine ZIP, Ecklers, Paragon, etc all carry them but I don't have any catalogs here at work.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines (C3 Shark Tank)
I would like to keep things stock looking so would stay away from the braided version. But I sure do like that set-up. And will go right back to the transmission of course when the job is done. Wonder if they have that set-up in something more Plain Jane....
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: No longer a member
Re: TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines (paul79)
Here's a suggestion to keep a stock look but make the hose connecting easier. Take the original metal tubes down to a brake shop and have them make up a set with the same bends only longer so that you can connect the rubber hoses in a spot that's easier to get at. I know the original ones are a downright pain to get at unless you have the hands of a small child, that way when you reinstall the radiator you can do so with the new tubes already connected. New tubes like that should not cost much at all, probably less than what the catalogs want for the original short ones. If that's not an option let me know and I'll look for my old ones, if I still have them I'll clean them up and mail them to you.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines (C3 Shark Tank)
That's a very generous offer. Thank you! It seems that ZIP wants $12.00 each for inlet and oulet. Pretty pricey. I will enquire at work tomorrow re your suggestion. Perhaps someone can do that job for me. Any hints on the right rubber compound for ATF? And size of hose?
*EDit*-I was thinking about your reply. Can you not just have the rubber lines clamped up tight before you drop in the rad?
[Modified by paul79, 8:49 PM 9/26/2002]
[Modified by paul79, 8:56 PM 9/26/2002]
*EDit*-I was thinking about your reply. Can you not just have the rubber lines clamped up tight before you drop in the rad?
[Modified by paul79, 8:49 PM 9/26/2002]
[Modified by paul79, 8:56 PM 9/26/2002]
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 252
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From: wellington N Zealand
Re: TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines (paul79)
I would tend to get the parts from Zips or Mid America as they arent too expensive. Can put the fittings in place with the radiator out but the hoses have to be put on with everything in place. It not too bad just finiky.
I did my 77 and was quite pleased as it was no where near as bad as I thought it was going to be :cool: :cool: :cool:
I did my 77 and was quite pleased as it was no where near as bad as I thought it was going to be :cool: :cool: :cool:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Re: TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines (paul79)
Go to your local AutoZone or where ever. They sell lengths of hard fuel/brake line with fittings already on each end. Get about a 2 foot section. Cut it in half and bend the ends at a 90 degree angle. You should be able to do it with yours hands if your careful, then just use some rubber fuel line to connect those pieces to the existing hard lines. That's what I did on my '79 and it works great. (And it cost about $2.00) Good luck.
:cheers:
[Modified by e3pres, 11:27 AM 9/27/2002]
[Modified by e3pres, 11:28 AM 9/27/2002]
:cheers:
[Modified by e3pres, 11:27 AM 9/27/2002]
[Modified by e3pres, 11:28 AM 9/27/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Re: TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines (e3pres)
Ask a knowledgable :lol: (not easy to find) parts guy, but I think that the
"high pressure" fuel lines are a multi-compound that the tranny fluid will
be happy in. Otherwise known as fuel-injection hose.
If you feel adventurous, you should just get the steel brake lines as
someone had mentioned. Just match up the fittings at the store. You'll need
a tubing cutter (cheap). To do it right, the cut ends should be bevelled
with a file and a "bubble flare" should be put in the end of the line -
to retain the clamped hose. The bubble flare tool isn't too expensive - but
maybe too much to get for one job. Get the solid "fuel injection" clamps
which do not have the serations in the clamps' banding.
Alternatively, I have seen "fuel line" repair ends they have a fitting and a
bubbled end. My recollection is that these were about $12 at the store - so
the catalog lines may not be a bad deal - 'cept for shipping.
Lastly - I would clean and clear-coat the lines before installing - or try to find stainless.
Good Luck Paul
:seeya
"high pressure" fuel lines are a multi-compound that the tranny fluid will
be happy in. Otherwise known as fuel-injection hose.
If you feel adventurous, you should just get the steel brake lines as
someone had mentioned. Just match up the fittings at the store. You'll need
a tubing cutter (cheap). To do it right, the cut ends should be bevelled
with a file and a "bubble flare" should be put in the end of the line -
to retain the clamped hose. The bubble flare tool isn't too expensive - but
maybe too much to get for one job. Get the solid "fuel injection" clamps
which do not have the serations in the clamps' banding.
Alternatively, I have seen "fuel line" repair ends they have a fitting and a
bubbled end. My recollection is that these were about $12 at the store - so
the catalog lines may not be a bad deal - 'cept for shipping.
Lastly - I would clean and clear-coat the lines before installing - or try to find stainless.
Good Luck Paul
:seeya
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines (paul79)
Thanks for all the replies! I have not decided what I am going to do; I have all winter to think about it. I did find out today at work that those parts are "GM discontinued." I see more and more C3 parts are that way these days.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Re: TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines (paul79)
I seem to recall that fuel lines will not hold up to ATF?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
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Re: TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines (paul79)
Paul,
I searched my spare parts boxes today but no luck on the stock tubes, sorry. Yes you could attach the rubber lines before dropping in the rad, I'm sure there's a couple easy ways to get this all bolted together other than trying to attach those little clamps after the rad is in.
As suggested why not try getting some brake lines at a local auto store, a tubing bender is about $10 and surprisingly easy to use, this way you could custom make your own tubes to suit the way you want to do the install. Whatever way you choose take your time and do it the way you want and let us know how it goes.
I searched my spare parts boxes today but no luck on the stock tubes, sorry. Yes you could attach the rubber lines before dropping in the rad, I'm sure there's a couple easy ways to get this all bolted together other than trying to attach those little clamps after the rad is in.
As suggested why not try getting some brake lines at a local auto store, a tubing bender is about $10 and surprisingly easy to use, this way you could custom make your own tubes to suit the way you want to do the install. Whatever way you choose take your time and do it the way you want and let us know how it goes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
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Re: TH350 Metal/Rubber Rad Lines (paul79)
Paul, I looked for the same thing for my car last year. The only ATF certified hose I could find was with a Transmission cooler hookup kit. I got it an Advanced Autoparts store for about $10.00 U.S. It had about 6 foot of hose and several different types of adapters to fit different kinds of radiators. I know $10.00 for $3.00 worth of hose and $2.00 worth of fittings is a little expensive, but in today's autoparts stores I felt lucky to find anything.
