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I have a 86 F150 with a AODE trans. I have developed a small pin hole leak in one of the cooler lines. They're old and rusty. So I'd definitely like to replace them both from stem to stern. The dealer doesnt have any available (no shocker there).
LMC offers OEM steel and even a Stainless option but they only sell lines for a C6 trans. My question is, Does anyone know the threads on the fittings for a C6 versus a AODE? Would they be the same and would these lines work for my AODE truck?
Otherwise, I guess I will just make some fitting into the trans and radiator and just run rubber lines. I'd prefer steel for the longevity but as much as I drive this truck, I could get by with rubber.
I would not run it is rubber as it can break down over time with heat, would need to be supported every few feet and would need to with stand the ATF oil & heat making it $$$ to get the right hose.
Pull your old lines out with out cutting and bending them to bad.
Find what size the metal line is. Use an open end wrench that fits over the line not the fitting, and get a roll of copper / nickle metal line.
It is easy to bend by hand and use the old lines as a pattern to bend up new ones.
Now the tricky part you will need a flaring tool. Think you can get it from HF but needs to be a double flaring tool. It can also be used for brake lines on your truck when the time comes. A small tubing cutter is also needed. I have had both since the late 70's from my high school days.
Use the cutter to remove the fittings from the old lines or you can get new ones from a good auto parts store.
Make sure you put them on the line the right way and before you flare it.
Once they are made feed them back in like you removed the old lines and hook them back up.
Check for leaks and top off the ATF and you are done.
I think the hardest part will be getting the old & new line out & in and getting the fittings on the transmission started & tight.
Good luck
Dave ----
The copper / nickle bends pretty easy so I would try not to make the lines in sections unless I really really had to, more places for leaks.
The lines you pull out will not bend as easy and if you have to bend cut them to get out not a big deal in my book just try and keep it together as best you can for a pattern.
When I did trany lines in my drag car the trans I was using was never offered in the car and there was no copper / nickel line back then.
I also added a extra cooler in front of the radiator and did not want to use rubber hose so bent up steel lines.
I used a tubing bender on the lines back then.
Dave ----
I'm not sure what you'd have to deal with on the radiator/cooler end as far as fittings, but I bought a set of universal lines for my AODE-W swap, linked below:
I don't know about AODE specifically, but I did an AOD to C6 swap about 12 years ago.
The rear cooling line port in both transmissions was the same type/size & position. The front port was also the same type/size, but was slightly differently positioned & I needed to lengthen that line......which you won't need to do, but you might have to reshape the line slightly to take up the extra length.
But remember that this was with an AOD, not an AODE.......so you would need to confirm
I'm not sure what you'd have to deal with on the radiator/cooler end as far as fittings, but I bought a set of universal lines for my AODE-W swap, linked below:
I have a Champion radiator with 1/8 NPT cooler ports, so I just converted them to 6AN also and the Amazon lines worked great.
Just throwing it out there in case you end up having to do something similar. I can't confirm any of it will fit your truck.
I ended up going that route. I purchased some "Amazon" stuff just simply because of their easy return policy. Im not normally a fan of Amazon's automotive stuff. Some come from genuine automotive distributors and are of good quality. Some do not...
I purchased the lines you attached with the fittings. I'll see if they're long enough. Quicky measurements say that they should be pretty close.
I also purchased a remote trans cooler with AN fittings. I plan to upgrade the radiator in the future but right now, the fittings AT the radiator are rusty and ugly looking so Im sure once I go to remove, they'll start leaking and give me problems. So this would a cheap method to get me by for now. And small enough to mount wherever I need it, large enough to do plenty of cooling needed for the trans. The lines listed above come with 6AN fittings on them so the adaptor 6AN fittings on the cooler should work fine. we'll see!
90* fittings at transmission Fitted directly to the OEM radiator Old Trans cooler lines Rusty lines @Rembrant I ordered the braided lines you recommended and some fitting adaptors for the transmission and hooked the lines directly into the radiator with the odd assortment of fittings the lines came with. I added two 90* fittings are the transmission to make the hard bend (wish I had some 45* but I may do this later). I wish I had at least one more 45* fitting for the top radiator fitting but again, maybe later. Right now, NO LEAKS! I was going to install an externally mounted trans cooler but with them fitted to the stock radiator, I returned them. This should allow me to still use these braided lines on a 2 or 3 core replacement radiator if I decide to upgrade in the future.
If you have one of those near you, The Parker Store, you'll be able to find any fitting you may ever need. I used to order a lot of their fittings for test set up's at work. (large aerospace company)
If you have one of those near you, The Parker Store, you'll be able to find any fitting you may ever need. I used to order a lot of their fittings for test set up's at work. (large aerospace company)
I have a distributor about 10 mins from my work! I'll look into it!
@Rembrant I ordered the braided lines you recommended and some fitting adaptors for the transmission and hooked the lines directly into the radiator with the odd assortment of fittings the lines came with. I added two 90* fittings are the transmission to make the hard bend (wish I had some 45* but I may do this later). I wish I had at least one more 45* fitting for the top radiator fitting but again, maybe later. Right now, NO LEAKS! I was going to install an externally mounted trans cooler but with them fitted to the stock radiator, I returned them. This should allow me to still use these braided lines on a 2 or 3 core replacement radiator if I decide to upgrade in the future.
I appreciate all the help guys
Well done man! Hey, it's a cheap solution, and mine are still working fine also. I kinda did the opposite as mine are straight connections on the trans and I ran mine up along the frame (more or less) and the 90 elbows into the trans. My trans cooler is on the bottom though, not the side like yours. Good luck with it.
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