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Transmission cooler line fitting

S

samsterman99

1/2 ton status
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Location
Raleigh, NC
Hey CK5ers,
Quick question now that im looking to add a transmission cooler for my 700R4. I am ordering one of the biggest I can fit in front of the condenser, http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-70274/
All of these coolers have 1/2" NPT inlet and outlet, but I dont think thats the stock size lines that go into the radiator. I am going to make one order from summit, and wanted to make sure I have enough lines and fittings to hook this up in one go. I DD my K5 for the time being, and don't want to take it apart, only to be missing parts.
Anyone have a idea of how to adapt the stock metal transmission lines to a 1/2" npt for the cooler.
86K5 with a 700R4, stock cooler setup going into the radiator.
 
Awesome!
I did a lot of searching and really wish I stumbled upon that post.
That looks like you went into the stock cooler first and then out through the new external cooler?
I am just thinking of bypassing the stock "in radiator cooler", since I probably wont ever be seeing temps below 50 degrees here.
Think local auto parts stores will have these fittings? or will I be suck with an online order?
 
samsterman99 said:
Awesome!
I did a lot of searching and really wish I stumbled upon that post.
That looks like you went into the stock cooler first and then out through the new external cooler?
I am just thinking of bypassing the stock "in radiator cooler", since I probably wont ever be seeing temps below 50 degrees here.
Think local auto parts stores will have these fittings? or will I be suck with an online order?
Click to expand...


I would not bypass the stock cooler. Even if temps don't get too low, the stock cooler helps warm the transmission up to operating temperature quicker.

Yes, heat is the enemy of auto trans fluid, but cold fluid doesn't work well either.

I had a hard time tracking down all the fittings, and they were expensive at the places that had them. I"d hit hardware stores and see what you can find, then order the balance to save some money.

Good luck!
 
dhcomp said:
I would not bypass the stock cooler. Even if temps don't get too low, the stock cooler helps warm the transmission up to operating temperature quicker.

Yes, heat is the enemy of auto trans fluid, but cold fluid doesn't work well either.

I had a hard time tracking down all the fittings, and they were expensive at the places that had them. I"d hit hardware stores and see what you can find, then order the balance to save some money.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Ok, Got all the parts ordered, but I could not find the 90 degree fitting anywhere, I had to get a straight fitting. I will end up running just a little extra hose at a bend then.
Thanks again for the quick help, I am always grateful to the CK5ers.
:waytogo:
 
Don't waste your money on that B&M cooler, I bought a big stacked plate B&M and I still had heat issues on my 700... nothing too extreme but it would flutter with overheating under a heavy load in the summer.
I yanked it and ordered one of these 40,000 gvw True-cool fluid coolers and IT WORKS.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TRAN...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27be4d6b84

I have a temp gauge on my 700 and my temps dramatically dropped when I went from the B&M to the True-cool. I have mine mounted on the core support up front and it does just fine.
As far as the lines go I have rubber lines going from barbed fittings on the cooler then they're just slipped over the factory hard lines and hose clamped. They've been like that since 2007 and I've never had a lick of problems. I've thought about changing the line out all the way from the trans but why fix what isn't broke? :)
 
Avery4jc said:
Don't waste your money on that B&M cooler, I bought a big stacked plate B&M and I still had heat issues on my 700... nothing too extreme but it would flutter with overheating under a heavy load in the summer.
I yanked it and ordered one of these 40,000 gvw True-cool fluid coolers and IT WORKS.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TRAN...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27be4d6b84

I have a temp gauge on my 700 and my temps dramatically dropped when I went from the B&M to the True-cool. I have mine mounted on the core support up front and it does just fine.
As far as the lines go I have rubber lines going from barbed fittings on the cooler then they're just slipped over the factory hard lines and hose clamped. They've been like that since 2007 and I've never had a lick of problems. I've thought about changing the line out all the way from the trans but why fix what isn't broke? :)
Click to expand...
Does this mount horizontally on your core support?
I have a oil cooler and a power steering(another B/M tranny cooler) on the drivers side of the radiator and dont have any more room over there. So I need something confined to the passenger side.
 
samsterman99 said:
Ok, Got all the parts ordered, but I could not find the 90 degree fitting anywhere, I had to get a straight fitting. I will end up running just a little extra hose at a bend then.
Thanks again for the quick help, I am always grateful to the CK5ers.
:waytogo:
Click to expand...


Don't do this. Find the 90 degree fitting, try napa. Really, a good ACE has a good number of these fittings. If nothing else, adapt to whatever 90 you can find, then adapt back.

Also, if i was to do this again, i'd get the one with the fan attached.

I have managed to heat mine up good, even with teh cooler, when towing. I have a gauge sending unit in the pan, so get good temp readings.

Good luck!
 
Went to ACE, NAPA, Autozone, and the local hardware store. 5/16ths to 3/8ths is a very unpopular size apparently. :/
I will make this all work, I am going to get the biggest cooler I can fit on that side and get it all situated. Pictures when I can get around to it. Hopefully this weekend.
 
samsterman99 said:
Does this mount horizontally on your core support?
I have a oil cooler and a power steering(another B/M tranny cooler) on the drivers side of the radiator and dont have any more room over there. So I need something confined to the passenger side.
Click to expand...

Yeah it mounts in the front going horizontally...
I'd ditch the oil cooler and go to a smaller power steering cooler (if you need them at all) if thats what it takes to fit the cooler I linked to.

dhcomp said:
I have managed to heat mine up good, even with teh cooler, when towing. I have a gauge sending unit in the pan, so get good temp readings.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thats exactly why I was telling the OP to go with the 40k gvw cooler, it just plain works even under load in the middle of summer.
 
A good jobber parts store should have Dorman or Weatherhead brass fittings that'll let you connect 5/16" tranny lines with 1/2"x20 threads to a 1/2? NPT thread...they'll like;y be male pipe threads,so you may need to use a pipe coupling to join the pipe thread end of the fitting to the male pipe thread on your cooler...pipe elbows can be used if you need a 90 degree fitting instead there..
 
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