Radiator fitting?

[willindsay]

So my tranny cooler steel line into the Radiator has a little kink in it.

So what I want to do is cut the steel line below the kink flare the end of it and get a barbed fitting to screw into the radiator.

Sounds simple enough right?
Well I went in search of the fitting today. First I got a 3/8x1/4 fitting from Home Depot and it's to small Then I get a 3/8x3/8 and it is to big. So I figure it has to be 3/8x5/16..
The problem... They don't carry it and I can't find one online.

So the question is has anybody done this and where and what size fitting is it?

 

[willindsay]

Oh and another thing does the big fitting that goes into the radiator Does it come off?
I sprayed it with PB Blaster and couldn't get it to budge.

 

[PopRichie77]

Not sure I understand what you are saying? Do not disturb the big stamped steel nut on the radiator, there is a rubber washer on the inside and if disturbed it will probably leak coolant. Hold the big steel hex fitting with a wrench and remove the tubing fitting, it looks kind of rounded but you should be able to reuse. These fittings are special ford fittings and can not be got at a hardware store or auto parts, only at Ford or a salvage yard.

 

[willindsay]

Ok here is a picture with marking of what I want to do. Hope it's easier to understand.

 

[1AJeremyD]

The large one should not come off at all. Only time it comes off is when you snap it off. You should go to ford for the preformed line. You will spend a long time trying to find the right fitting if you don't and most likely you won't.

 

[willindsay]

The large one should not come off at all. Only time it comes off is when you snap it off. You should go to ford for the preformed line. You will spend a long time trying to find the right fitting if you don't and most likely you won't.

That's what I was afraid of. From what I've heard from other members here Ford no longer sells the preformed line.
So I'm gonna go to the local Pull-A-Part and cut a piece of the line plus fitting and flare the end and connect it with rubber hose to the steel line already there.

 

[PopRichie77]

Barbed hose fittings are pipe thread, that thread is for a flare fitting and is different. Just get the right fitting and the whole tube at the salvage yard or cut as much as you want and clamp together with hose.

 

[ratgp]

i would just use a 5/16 or 3/8 ready made brakeline available at almost any automotive stores in any lenth,hope this helps

 

[willindsay]

Barbed hose fittings are pipe thread, that thread is for a flare fitting and is different. Just get the right fitting and the whole tube at the salvage yard or cut as much as you want and clamp together with hose.

That's my plan. I'm heading out Thursday to get the parts and a Trans Cooler also.

 

[PopRichie77]

You guys are missing the point that fitting can't be got at an auto parts, it's a special flair fitting, made for Ford. I searched everywhere for it a month ago, wanted to connect a temperature gauge with out cutting the line. It is a standard thread size but it is extra long, the regular flair fittings are to short and wont bottom out in the ford adapter, which I think also has an o-ring in it for sealing. Any way good luck.

 

[Maniak]

Its a junkyard part since as mentioned, its a flare fitting there.

Soo, grab the entire line from a yard, or at least grab the fitting and 6" of line so you can flare the fitting and use rubber line or flare and fit the old with the new.

~Mark

 

[willindsay]

Its a junkyard part since as mentioned, its a flare fitting there.

Soo, grab the entire line from a yard, or at least grab the fitting and 6" of line so you can flare the fitting and use rubber line or flare and fit the old with the new.

~Mark

Thats is my plan I'm heading out tomorrow morning to get one I'll post back with how I fixed it.

 

[willindsay]

Ok got this issue fixed today went to Pull A Part and cut 2 of the fittings off that weren't kinked and about 6" of steel line with it. I had bought a flare tool for $10 but the price was too good to be true all it did was push the steel line through so I just slipped about an inch or two of rubber hose over each side then put 2 clamps on each side and tightened down.
Went for a drive and checked and it was all good.