I need some help with a problem I have. I'm replacing the radiator in my 93 Explorer. I've gotten the old one out and have no problem installing the newer one except for the trans cooler lines. My old radiator had the lines attached to a nipple/adaptor (adaptor may be wrong choice of word) that I feel I need to remove from the old radiator because the new one did not come with them.

I went back to NAPA to see if the sold them, they don't. The parts guy took the old radiator back into the shop to see if he could remove the nipples. He couldn't but did remove the thin nut which centers the nipple in the proper position in the radiator. The guy is telling me that the nipples are part of the internals and told me that the cooler lines should screw into the new radiator with out them. I tried this but the threads do not seem to go into the holes with ease. I did not attempt to use a wrench on them because I do not want to strip the threads in the new radiator.

My question to the forum Pros is this, do these nipples come out and if so how do I get them out with screwing them up because they appear to have seized if they are removable.

Someone please help me. I was scheduled to go out of town this week but as of now this does not seem possible.

 

They should unscrew, but alas, they are steel and so are the cooling line(s) fittings. The threads will corrode to the point they may not unscrew easily. I twisted off one of my trans lines trying to get them loose for a radiator leak repair recently. All I can suggest is to soak the fitting threads with Knocker Loose ar similar product and keep trying. Other than that, I suppose a trip to the dealer is in order to purchase replacements.
Dialtone

 

I got replacements at the dealer. They weren't very expensive.

 

Sorry for not responding sooner but thanks for the advice, I got them out.

The internals are brass so since I did not need the old radiator any longer I just kept wrenching them until the brass twisted off. I then took a hacksaw and cut the plastic portion of the radiator to get the nipples out along with the threaded portion. From there I put them under extreme heat and they un-screwed like they were finger tightened.

I now know that the parts guy where I purchased the new radiator needs to be corrected on this.