The challenge car is in dire need of new transmission cooler lines. In preparation for removing the old ones, I've been hitting the fittings with Kroil for the last few days. But, even using a line wrench, I could not get the fittings to budge. The trans cooler has a part on it that I can put a 13/16" wrench as leverage while I try to remove the line, in order to reduce the chance of tearing up the cooler, but that is not an option on the radiator, with its plastic end tanks.
I figure worst case with the trans cooler, I cut the lines, and use a socket wrench to remove the fittings. But,m since it is all metal, I may be able to get a propane torch in there and heat it up a bit to see if that loosens it at all. However, with the radiator, the torch is not an option. I could try the cut the line trick, there too, but am afraid it's going to require so much force that I'll risk cracking the end tank.
Any ideas? As this is a challenge car, I'm really not in a position to replace the radiator.
02Pilot
UltraDork
5/30/20 8:18 a.m.
CRC Freeze-Off worked pretty well on some stuck P/S fittings I couldn't torch because of the O-rings. Might be an option here too.
Maybe cut the hard line with a tubing cutter then use rubber hose instead of hard lines? My wife's Odyssey has a similar situation. Hardline rusted and started leaking but was bolted to the plastic radiator tank. After trying a bunch of stuff to get the bolt out to no avail I did what I mentioned above and it's been fine.
Cut the lines with a reciprocating saw, use a socket.
If it breaks the cooler, you needed a radiator anyway.
edit: I figure trans lines are wear items like oil filters, there is no point in trying to save them
wawazat said:
Maybe cut the hard line with a tubing cutter then use rubber hose instead of hard lines? My wife's Odyssey has a similar situation. Hardline rusted and started leaking but was bolted to the plastic radiator tank. After trying a bunch of stuff to get the bolt out to no avail I did what I mentioned above and it's been fine.
I was actually thinking the same thing as a backup plan. If I do that, I'll need to hold off on anything potentially destructive to the fittings or lines close to the fittings. Did you need to flare the ends of the hard lines, or were clamps enough to keep it from leaking?
I didn't flare them but I did use double clamp to ease my mind a bit.
Snip off and install external cooler instead
Patrick (Forum Supporter) said:
Snip off and install external cooler instead
It’s got the factory auxiliary cooler already. It’s the lines to it that are bad - there’s a bracket up near the battery that holds them in place that appears to have also done a great job of holding moisture, too.
