Transmission Cooler Line Repair

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MrJLR

MrJLR

Built, not bought
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I finally got my transmission parts from A&A Transmission and I scheduled a 3 day weekend next weekend to put it all back together. ..been working 6 days a week...ugh

Anyway, when I pulled the transmission out 3 weeks ago or so, one of the transmission cooler lines "twisted" off...

These are not high pressure lines - correct? Can I just use some rubber hose and clamps for repair or do I have to get fittings and make flares etc...only needs to run a year or 2 until my next engine swap...

Jeff
 
There is pressure there but not "high". A fuel hose should repair it, but you should cut the line and flare the ends. This will hold the hose better.
 
I wouldn't use rubber hose. Although it's not very high pressure, it can exceed 100PSI. That's too much for rubber hose and it will fail eventually. It's going to take just as long to repair it right as it will to crap it all up so why not do it right?
 
Been using trans hose for years no problems should be good. also have used fuel injection line hose too no issues. Rubber lines help also routing them easier too.
 
Fuel hose is not good enough. They make transmission hose and power steering hose that is better. Why not get some 5/16 tubing and make it up. Or get a line from a member. Kim
 
RustyRatRod said:
I wouldn't use rubber hose. Although it's not very high pressure, it can exceed 100PSI. That's too much for rubber hose and it will fail eventually. It's going to take just as long to repair it right as it will to crap it all up so why not do it right?
Click to expand...
Well, option 2 is flares and fittings. ..
While option 3, which is what I'll do on the engine swap is a whole new line....
Just wondering if I could get by for a short time on the easy....

Jeff
 
MrJLR said:
Well, option 2 is flares and fittings. ..
While option 3, which is what I'll do on the engine swap is a whole new line....
Just wondering if I could get by for a short time on the easy....

Jeff
Click to expand...

Yeah. Go for it then.
 
I'm going to be installing a transmission cooler as well...don't they use rubber lines?

Jeff
 
Ok...I'll use a 3 to 4 inch piece from my cooler kit for a short while until I purchase a whole new line...

Thanks guys!

A&A Transmission sent me:
3000-3400 stall converter
Matching flex plate
39 tooth speedometer gear
High performance valve body
Billet aluminum rear servo retainer (the whole reason for this!)
And new converter bolts

Transmission is out on my bench and with a 3 day weekend, should be a fun time and driving again on Sunday! Burning rubber and chirping 2nd gear!

Jeff
 
IIRC... factory Ford 65 and 68 mustangs use rubber hose between the cooler lines and the radiator cooler.

I may be wrong but isn't the feed for the cooler under pressure but the other end dumps into the pan, only pressure is the restriction in the cooler.
 
Rubber transmission cooler hose is fine. How its held on is the question. I do 1/2 of a brake flare to make a bubble so it cant slip off. And clamps used on fuel injection hose are the best. At the very least double clamp.
 
you have to be careful when you tell someone rubber lines will work. Many years ago, I told my teenage son''s best friend something similar when he had twisted off the line ends at the rad. A few days later, I get a call from this guy saying he broke down at an intersection nearby. I show up, and there is ATF everywhere. I help him push it to the far shoulder, and pop the hood. Apparently, he had used vacuum hose to mend the line. It had worked for a short time, but when the car had fully warmed up, the high pressure side had swelled up like a balloon. When he gave it gas off the line when the signal had turned green, this balloon swelled enough to get hit by the fan blades and it blew several quarts of ATF everywhere. When I realized what had happened, I couldn't stop laughing, the visual was hilarious.
So, yeah, you can use fuel injection hose and FI hose clamps, temporarily. But some flared fuel line and a coupling is much better.
 
Part stores will have the 5/16 tubing with flare on end. They or hardware store will have 5/16 compression union ( the type with ferrules ). Replace what is damaged section and carry on.
 
Buy a compression fitting . Don't use a hose unless you want a fire. Did you ever see what happens when trans fluid hits the exhaust. Myself I would buy new lines.



 
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I'd like to have a buck for every foot of "transmission cooler hose" I sold over the 30 years I worked in the transmission parts business. Use the proper hose and it'll last forever. Back in the day, I put a cooler on the daily driver. Drove it for 10 years and never had a problem. Using vacuum line hose, water pump hose and you're looking for trouble. It might be all right for a very quick patch, but that's all.
Transmission cooler hose was made to be used with obviously transmission oil.
 
Well...I was at the parts store for a pan gasket and misc stuff...I went ahead and got some 5/16" line and a compression union....
What the hell. ..The rubber line would work but it really isn't all that much easier than the fitting.

Jeff
 
transman said:
I'd like to have a buck for every foot of "transmission cooler hose" I sold over the 30 years I worked in the transmission parts business. Use the proper hose and it'll last forever. Back in the day, I put a cooler on the daily driver. Drove it for 10 years and never had a problem. Using vacuum line hose, water pump hose and you're looking for trouble. It might be all right for a very quick patch, but that's all.
Transmission cooler hose was made to be used with obviously transmission oil.
Click to expand...


Hose is OK at some locations. But under the car near the headers or exhaust it could turn into a problem. For safety reasons I would never advise anyone to use hose unless its all they have. I myself ran stainless braided hose with Fragola ends on everything.

30 years ago I did things that I learned over the years wasn't the best choice. The parts available today there is no reason to use a hose unless your looking for a quick fix. I admit I did it . Bubbled the line ends and the double clamped them in the opposite direction. After time that hose will get soft from heat at certain locations.

So when someone asked me for advise I tell them the safest way to do it. I wouldn't want to be responsible for someones demise of themselves or their car

Some cars are better off with braided stainless with heat wrap as seen below. I could never run rubber. The braided stuff gets costly. But the burn unit at the ER cost more

Notice the duster above when that fluid caught it was like a flame thrower going through the car. It goes up like fuel when the fluid is hot. Why take the chance.

Steve 101.JPG


Steve 055.JPG


Steve 056.JPG


DSCF0167.JPG
 
MrJLR said:
Well...I was at the parts store for a pan gasket and misc stuff...I went ahead and got some 5/16" line and a compression union....
What the hell. ..The rubber line would work but it really isn't all that much easier than the fitting.

Jeff
Click to expand...
It may be more work but it'll be permanent. I agree with the guys that said don't use fuel line. When I was 19 (wow, that was a long time ago) I learned the hard way how fuel line won't last. I repaired a broken trans line with a piece of fuel line and it didn't even last a week. Blew and sprayed on the headers. Luckily I hadn't ran it long enough to get it very hot or I bet it would have caught fire. Haven't tried to buy it lately but back then auto parts stores had power steering return hose in 5/16" and it's stronger and made to have oil ran through it
 
fishy68 said:
It may be more work but it'll be permanent. I agree with the guys that said don't use fuel line. When I was 19 (wow, that was a long time ago) I learned the hard way how fuel line won't last. I repaired a broken trans line with a piece of fuel line and it didn't even last a week. Blew and sprayed on the headers. Luckily I hadn't ran it long enough to get it very hot or I bet it would have caught fire. Haven't tried to buy it lately but back then auto parts stores had power steering return hose in 5/16" and it's stronger and made to have oil ran through it
Click to expand...

Well, yesterday I replaced the blown out rear servo spring retainer with a billet piece, installed my new valve body, my new speedometer gear and buttoned up everything.

Today I'll bolt the transmission back to the engine with my new higher stall converter, finish my broken line repair and make all my connections. ....

Should be able to test drive tonight or tomorrow morning!

Jeff
 
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