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Hey guys I have been busting my head for about 2 weeks trying to figure out why my radiator is different than anything on the market. I rather purchase an aftermarket radiator then buy one from the dealer, because they both have plastic and they both will crack at the end of the day as time passes. My stock radiator has cracked and I ordered a replacement from aftermarket place and they have tried 3 DIFFERENT radiators and they all don’t fit.
everything fits on the radiator and is the same except the transmission cooler lines. My cooler line goes into the radiator and screws on. It is not quick connect, even dealer confirmed. The aftermarket has 3 different brands of radiators, 2 are not quick connect but the thread on the transmission cooler lines is smaller so my lines can’t fit and are not possible to screw in.
has anyone had this problem before? Are the tips on the trans coolerlines interchangeable so I could use the different radiators? Or do I have to buy it only from dealer because nothing fits.
The problem I’m coming across nobody has ever seen especially at these shops, because everything always fits. But the fact that they don’t fit even when they are prompted options for that specific year is baffling. The thread to which the cooler lines screw in is 100% different, but why? Is my car the only car that has this? Because if just one other person bought a radiator and had the same problem they would’ve known about this. I can get my money back, and I will, it’s just frustrating to pay 2X for a radiator that is already cheap because it has plastic! Which cracks!
Hey guys I have been busting my head for about 2 weeks trying to figure out why my radiator is different than anything on the market. I rather purchase an aftermarket radiator then buy one from the dealer, because they both have plastic and they both will crack at the end of the day as time passes. My stock radiator has cracked and I ordered a replacement from aftermarket place and they have tried 3 DIFFERENT radiators and they all don’t fit.
everything fits on the radiator and is the same except the transmission cooler lines. My cooler line goes into the radiator and screws on. It is not quick connect, even dealer confirmed. The aftermarket has 3 different brands of radiators, 2 are not quick connect but the thread on the transmission cooler lines is smaller so my lines can’t fit and are not possible to screw in.
has anyone had this problem before? Are the tips on the trans coolerlines interchangeable so I could use the different radiators? Or do I have to buy it only from dealer because nothing fits.
Can you post a picture of the fitting on the end of the trans line???
The trans line fittings changed around 2001. The early year cars used a flare on the end of the tube that mated to a matching flared surface in the fitting on the radiator. The later year cars use an oring on the end of the tube that fit into a matching fitting on the radiator. I believe the thread sizing on the fitting on the end of the tube also changed. BOTH screwed into the fitting on the radiator, however.
A picture of the fitting on the end of the tube would help a lot.
That’s the transmission cooler line end. See how it is not fitting into the radiator, it’s supposed to go in and tighten it. The radiator thread is smaller. I don’t think my tips are interchangeable on the trans cooler lines.
That’s the transmission cooler line end. See how it is not fitting into the radiator, it’s supposed to go in and tighten it. The radiator thread is smaller. I don’t think my tips are interchangeable on the trans cooler lines.
Do you still have your old radiator?
I think the fitting you need is AC-Delco 8651654. It looks like this:
If you have your old radiator, there are probably a couple of them screwed in the transmission cooler ports. If you don't have the old ones, try your FLAPS or your favorite online parts source for AC-Delco 8651654 or an after market equivalent that cross references to that number.
I think the fitting you need is AC-Delco 8651654. It looks like this:
If you have your old radiator, there are probably a couple of them screwed in the transmission cooler ports. If you don't have the old ones, try your FLAPS or your favorite online parts source for AC-Delco 8651654 or an after market equivalent that cross references to that number.
yes I do I have the old radiator I’m at autozone and oreilly trying to find an adapter so I realiZed I need a 1/4 female to 3/8 male. I found one at autozone but it’s not inverted flare or for trans cooler lines so the thread is wrong.
If that is the replacement radiator in the picture, it is NOT the correct radiator for the later year C5's.
Here is a pic of a radiator from a 98 automatic:
and here is a pic of a radiator from a 2001 automatic:
Notice the difference in the fitting part that is in the radiator between the above pictures. Also notice the difference between the fitting on the end of the line/tube. Your picture above shows the later year fitting on the end of the line/tube from the transmission. So you need a radiator for the later year automatic.
Who ever you are purchasing your replacement radiator(s) from is sending an early year replacement and that will NOT work. Furthere there are a number of threads about this same issue on this Forum and there are no "adapters" available.
Suggest that you purchase an authentic GM replacement radiator from a GM distributor or play the "keep trying to get the correct part" game from an aftermarket supplier. JMHO
i don’t think they knew it’s not fitting because they are willing to accept the return, I’m just no trying to spend 2X the money , I will find an adapter hopefully . This sucks ....
i don’t think they knew it’s not fitting because they are willing to accept the return, I’m just no trying to spend 2X the money , I will find an adapter hopefully . This sucks ....
So the picture has 2 fittings one on the left and the right. I found the correct fitting wel almost and that’s the one on the right. The one on the right is 1/4F to 3/8M , I need the one on the right to have the left thread. It’s invented flare thread which fits perfectly while the right doesn’t. Idk where to find it.
Can you post a picture of the fitting on the end of the trans line???
The trans line fittings changed around 2001. The early year cars used a flare on the end of the tube that mated to a matching flared surface in the fitting on the radiator. The later year cars use an oring on the end of the tube that fit into a matching fitting on the radiator. I believe the thread sizing on the fitting on the end of the tube also changed. BOTH screwed into the fitting on the radiator, however.
A picture of the fitting on the end of the tube would help a lot.
Tom DeWitt posted on this exact subject a few weeks back. He was wanting pics of various adapters for certain C5 model years in question. I think he found what he was looking for.
If the hard line from the transmission has a flare, then you need a 1/4 male pipe thread on one side for the radiator and a 3/8 female flare fitting on the other side for the line. That's fairly common at auto parts stores or plumbing stores. Flare threads ≠ pipe threads.
I'm not sure if the AC-Delco part # I gave was for flares or for the other threaded fitting that's more like a compression fitting with a rubber O-ring. Both styles were used on the C5's, I think.
Read that thread carefully and some of the pics I posted in this thread came from that very thread. What he was looking for was a pic of the fitting on the end of the line/tube from a 97 - 2000 C5 automatic. My post above # 9 above shows that fitting he was looking for a picture of.
can you link me it please I’m new to forum as poster but long time lurker
I have spent ALL DAY YESTERDAY FINDING A DAM ADAPTER. So I realized the tip on 2004 corvette auto radiator transmission cooling line can be token off. The dealership told me no, they are a bunch of a**holes trying to make you buy the GM factory radiator. I took it off with this bad boy, now all I do is plug it into the aftermarket radiator and I have a new thread that came with the aftermarket radiator instead of adapting my old line.
Solved it on my own. No need for cutting it. It comes off
2004 Corvette Radiator Help
