So I need a set of trans cooler lines for a 78 f250 4x4 I want to use steel lines like original, they work well, where can I get them? Bronco graveyard has but shipping was like $70 so that was more than the lines were worth, anyother supply?

 

Bronco Graveyard gets a lot of stuff from Dennis Carpenter. Might also try NPD

 

Buy a roll of hard line and make them? Not hard to do. Probably cheaper too.

 

Shipping will be a bear no matter where you order them from due to the size........then they will probably arrive bent in half......I ordered a set of high dollar stainless lines for a Chevelle resto years ago and was pissed when they showed up.....they were folded over double to reduce the size of the package.........never could completely get the bends straightened back out so they looked good. If I were to do it again, Id buy a roll of the new nickel alloy lines and build my own.....

 

LMC trucks can sell you anything you need if you cant find it, sometimes things are cheap and sometimes lmc gets proud of their products so you might look

 

How is steel lines superior to the nickel brake lines readily available at the auto parts store?

 

This is where most of those places get their lines. Ive orderd for LMC and JBG and they shipped from Inline Tube. Nice stuff

https://www.inlinetube.com/_p/prd14/...nes-c6-frt7641

 

Got tubing from NAPA, 4 compression fittings from Ace hardware at $4 each, a cheap bender from Harbor Freight and made mine in a couple of hours.


I was gonna get the fancy nickel stuff but the guy brought the plain steel to the counter so I went with it. Looks exactly like the original stuff. I ran one continuous line from the transmission to 4" from the plate cooler and used the hose that came with the cooler to finish.


Michael

 

Reviving a bit of an old thread here..

What is the proper inner diameter size for our trans cooler lines (OEM Steel lines that run into the trans)?

I've seen 5/16" posted in some spots, 3/8" in others.

What about the fittings?

I've seen several different sizes of fittings, depending on what they're for (trans vs rad).

 

I used 5/16" steel tube from NAPA. It's really hard to find on the website, I just asked the counter person for a coil (or 25') of 5/16" brake line.

NAPA doesn't stock compression fittings, at least not that I could see so I ordered the completely wrong size from Amazon after I found a couple of posts that said the transmission fittings were 1/4" NPT. Mine were 1/8" NPT. Off to Ace Hardware I go. There, I bought 4 5/16" compression by 1/8" male NPT fittings and 2 1/8" female NPT by whatever size the hose that came with the Hayden plate cooler was hose barb fittings. What I don't know is what size the fittings are in the radiator as I abandoned the radiator cooler completely for the Hayden. My radiator cooler was plugged with the nastiest sludge you ever did see and I didn't want that in my shiny new transmission!

Tube is sized in OD, pipe is sized in ID. Easy way to remember is that there is an "I" in pipe.

I just noticed that I included a link to the NAPA tubing that I used in my previous. post. It says it's $0.99/foot but I think it's only sold in 25' rolls. That gave me enough to run from the transmission to the cooler in straight runs and plenty to practice bending with about 8' left over.

Michael

 

i don't know what size they are, but they're definitely smaller than 3/8", cuz when I pull the radiator I connect the trans lines together with 3/8" fuel hose, and it's way big

 

Napa, get the sticks , get some couplers and the large and small benders from harbor freight, invest in a really good double flare kit and practice on it over and over. Get a few wire coats hangers I make patterns from them, then transfer to the tubing. Get a stick or 2, get the longest they have always. Forget compression fittings. Unless you have one of those high dollars benders to straighten out the coiled tubing, it just wont look that great( not to say you couldn't, but it time consuming and tedious). My early bronco got polished stainless hardline. I bought 20' sticks. It harder to work with, but oh looks and works so well.

 

So just to wrap up my questions,

The tubing is indeed 5/16". I compared my new 25' role with my existing trans cooler lines - they are the same size

The fittings are a different story. I couldn't get any info out of the guy at the counter regarding the actual thread and pitch of the fitting. According to him, they "all standard for that era of vehicle" and grabbed a handful of male and female 5/16 flared tube fittings for me. They were $0.77 each, so I got 4 of everything.

I checked the thread/pitch of the male fittings to the existing female ends at the radiator, low-and-behold... they're the same.


Guess that wraps up my questions being answered. Thanks for the help fellas!

 

my apologies for boring the folks who have sen me post this before: if you pack the lines before bending, it helps prevent collapse at the tighter bends. Some folks advocate sand, but I dislike the possibility that some would not get flushed out inadvertently - I like common table salt because what doesn't get flushed will dissolve out in water. Then reflush the lines with alcohol to get any remaining water out and blow dry.