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Stripped Brass Fitting in Radiator (tranny fluid line)

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Old Apr 24, 2001 | 02:51 AM
  #1  
Black Beauty's Avatar
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From: Los Angeles, Ca, USA
Car: 90 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: T56
Stripped Brass Fitting in Radiator (tranny fluid line)

ok....so i removed the radiator and patched it up with jb weld....went to put it back in (in a rush) and stripped the brass fitting....i knew it was a tranny line, could feel the ever so familiar greasy fealing in my fingertips and decided to start the car anyways cuz i had to be at work.....ok....OFF....tranny fluid was spurting everywhere.....

i took the radiator back out and looked....yep stripped....it doesnt look as if the brass fitting can be removed/replaced.....what do i do????

please help....i beleive it is the stock radiator....and i just plug up these holes, or does the tranny fluid have to circulate. if so...does it HAVE to circulate through the radiator??

i really dont wanna buy a new radiator cuz i stripped a fitting.....HELP!!
thanks
Rick

------------------
Rick
90 Camaro RS 305 TBI
400 small block, Hooker 1 3/4 LTs, Random Tech Cat, Hooker aero chamber cat back on the way!!
TH700-R4 with Trans-Go shift kit (corvette servo here...but not installed yet)
MacEwen Motorsports White Gauge Overlays
14" K&N X-Stream Open Element
GTS Headlight and Taillight covers
5% Limo Tint all around
Classic White Chevy Bowtie sticker on rear window
http://www.geocities.com/esvalenz

Man if my camaro were a rice-rocket all those mods would give me what...easily 50-60 hp!!!

"Just because I've done it, doesn't mean I knew what I was doing!" - Me
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Old Apr 24, 2001 | 02:55 AM
  #2  
ColinOpseth's Avatar
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 762
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From: Riverside, CA
Car: 1987 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: 305TPI
Transmission: 700R4
you stripped the fitting in the rad? ouch.

did you try tapping out the fitting yet? you could try buying a set of pipe taps and trying your best to clean the threads up.. if you're very careful and get the original threads you should be able to get them decently clean.

if not, you should be able to take out the rad and have it fixed at a rad shop for a decent sum..

if you stripped the tranny line you can buy a new brass fitting that will screw into the rad and connect that fitting and the old tranny line with a 1-2" section of TRANSMISSION cooler hose (NOT rad or fuel/emission) and then clamp them with hose clamps. it would be a quick fix, not a permanent one

later,
Colin

------------------
Webmaster: www.IROC-Z.org
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Old Apr 24, 2001 | 03:12 AM
  #3  
Mo's Avatar
Mo
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From: bay area, CA
If you do end up plugging them, get an aftermarket tranny cooler and run the fuid through that

------------------
90 IROC 5.7l (L98)
ram air, K&N's, air foil,Flows

LIKE A ROC
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Old Apr 24, 2001 | 03:26 AM
  #4  
Black Beauty's Avatar
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From: Los Angeles, Ca, USA
Car: 90 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: T56
thx colin and mo...

ive heard about the hose trick...but unfortunately its the 1st option...the fitting in the radiator....it doesnt seem to be removable/replaceable so i got a seal pick and started scraping away and the threads trying to save em...im gonna get an extension peice tomorrow so i can get the right angle on the threads....thats what cause the problem in the first place...bad angle...

thx
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Old Apr 24, 2001 | 04:46 AM
  #5  
ronterry's Avatar
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Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Elizabeth, Colorado
Car: '94 Corvette
Engine: LT1
Transmission: 4L60E
I would do what 'Mo' said, for four reasons.
1. You live in LA, so you shouldn’t have an under cooling problem.
2. By taking some heat away from you radiator you'll have a more cooling efficient radiator
3. A cooler is going to extend the life of your transmission.
4. I did the same thing last year, and I could never stop it from leaking !!!
I tried what your saying, but could not get it to bite(hopefully you'll have better luck). I also JB welded a coupling, and flared a new female fitting on the hose. Nothing worked for me at least.
Since I was converting my TA for race only, I popped in a B&M race cooler, and replaced the oil lines with #6 pro-flex steel braided lines. About ten million dollars in Russell fitting later it's done, and no surprise it doesn’t leak.

I'm sure you can find a cooler kit for around 30 bucks.

opps, forgot your question. More advantages to running a cooler only. The biggest problem with NOT running it through the radiator, is under cooling. Not a problem unless you live up north.

Best of luck,

Ron

------------------
'82 Trans Am
'81 Camaro Z-28
'94 Vette LT1 Coupe

[This message has been edited by ronterry (edited April 24, 2001).]
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Old Apr 24, 2001 | 01:52 PM
  #6  
Black Beauty's Avatar
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 712
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From: Los Angeles, Ca, USA
Car: 90 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: T56
actually i live in LA in the summer and the rest of the time in SF (frisco)

i d0 have a fan switch though so...i could just not turn it on....

thx
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