I'm just popping in a new radiator and everything went fine until it came to attach the lower transmission oil cooler line (I have an automatic).

I don't have the car jacked up, which I think is going to make it extremely difficult to install that line since it sits below the lower rad hose outlet, and I don't think you can see it from the top.

I tried to thread it in by feel (with thumbs, not a wrench) and I couldn't get it to take. I also tried with a mirror, and it appears that the line is in the right spot but the fitting doesn't seem to want to thread into the rad. The top one went in fine, so I'm pretty sure that the rad has the right sizes. I compared both rads before putting it in, they seem identical in the location of the fittings.

I thought it best to just call it a night rather than play with it further, as it sure was frustrating and I didn't want to risk stripping the lines because of that.


Is there some sort of magical trick to attaching the lower line? Will I need to jack up the car and attempt to do it from underneath? Tilt the radiator in a certain direction?

the connection is supposed to be above the radiator hose connection. Are you sure your using the right hole?

Yeah - I think it's the right one. Here is what my radiator looks like (I pulled the pictures off RockAuto - mine is the same just Prestone branded):





The transmission cooler line is definitely below the lower rad hose (you can see the brass plugs), unless I am completely off base.

i checked my car, and your right, the connection is below the radiator hose.

Have you tried jacking up the front of the car so you can get under it and see what happening? it may be easier from below.

For best results use a 90 degree swivel that has AN fittings.
available through summit aeroquip or earls

on 2 camaros so far i tried and tried to re conect one or two of the lines, took them out bent them moved them did everything o could think of, got mad on one and cut the metal line and used high pressure rubber hose to make a "butt connection" (lack of better words) take the cut piece of metal hose and the connect screw it in, then slip the rubber over each end of the cut metal, put some hose clamps on and tighten like crazy

on mine i put an aftermarket cooler on so i had to cut the lines and run new hose to the after market cooler

not on of them have leaked any trans fluid

Grab a spare nut the same size and see if it threads on. If it does maybe when you took off those lines the fittings were just on borrowed time.

That's a really good idea.

I have a large tap and die set, I'm assuming if the threads are shot I should be able to fix them?

Are there are more details on this? I've never run custom lines before, so the whole "AN fitting" thing is greek to me.

I'm not opposed to spending a little extra to have it done right.

I haven't jacked it up yet - I thought it was best to just walk away from it that night, as it's still parked until they clean the streets of the winter sand.

I'm hoping I can fit some part of my head in there so that I can at least see it - I think my sway bar/wonder bar might be in the way.

I'll keep that in mind if I can't get it to thread on. My preference would be to get it in there the factory way.

the threads are prolly fine. the problem your having is getting the hardline and flare into the rad dead straight. when ever hardlines are removed they may be tweaked. so really all you need to do is,

1. see the angle of the line and the angle of the nipple on the radiador.

2. bend it to line up and finger it in (rapid wiggling of the line, while fingering helps, lol) , dont use a wrench until you get it to bite a few threads or u will cross thread it.

i would get under the car as 86ta said, good luck.