Losing coolant.....somewhere.....

[andymac0035]

Thanks.

Of course the next question is: Do I really need to upgrade? Or is the stock size fine for normal use?

This car is my daily driver. I do not tow with it.
It will probably stay stock, or near stock as I don't have the money to mess with it like I want to.
(but I can still dream)

[gadget73]

Sounds like you don't need more than stock capacity then. NH isn't exactly like living in the desert in Arizona or something.

[andymac0035]

Thanks again.

I see about 4 different stock replacements listed....with a noticable price swing between them.
Any particular brand/manufacturer that is better liked?
(and any ones to avoid?)

[andymac0035]

Ordered a new stock replacement today. Planning to put it in this weekend.
Looks like a pretty staight forward install.....Is it?

I have changed a radiator before, but not one that had tranny lines.
Is there anything I need to know before I attempt this?
Are there O-rings or teflon tape to be replaced?

I'm thinking I will spray the fittings with PB blaster for the next few days.

[87gtVIC]

no o rings that i am aware off. Just be careful with removing the tranny lines. That fitting that the lines sit in like to break. And make sure that you put the fan shroud back at the same time you are putting the radiator back...otherwise you will have to do everything over again to get the fan shroud stuck back in there.

[1987cp]

Agreed, few things more annoying than realizing you have the fan back on but not the shroud. I'm still thinking on an electric fan upgrade down the line just because mechanical fans are annoying.

I got lucky on my first and second radiator jobs, and had no issues with the tranny lines twisting. But even if the ends twist off, it's pretty easy to fix (tube to NPT, basically - use compression, regular flare, or inverted flare).

[andymac0035]

no o rings that i am aware off. Just be careful with removing the tranny lines. That fitting that the lines sit in like to break. And make sure that you put the fan shroud back at the same time you are putting the radiator back...otherwise you will have to do everything over again to get the fan shroud stuck back in there.

Okay, now I'm confused.
I picked up my new radiator today.
It included new fittings for the lines aaaaaand........wait for it......O-rings.

[87gtVIC]

see shows what i know....thats why i carefully choose my words... key here was "aware of"

[andymac0035]

No worries about that......heck I even highlighted the "aware of" part too.

I've just never had to mess with tranny lines before and I'm trying to make sure I don't mess anything up.

I appreciate any and all help/advice I can get.

[andymac0035]

HAHA.....oh boy I know so little about tranny lines......
I have been spraying them with PB blaster and trying to see if I can get them cracked loose before the weekend (to see if I'm going to break something).
....I was trying to turn the middle part of the "fitting" not realising I needed to be turning the small part on the "line" side.
Well I had my mistake pointed out to me today by my father-in-law.
Now I have the upper line cracked loose......but the lower is being stubborn.
Hopefully I can get that one loose tomorrow.

[andymac0035]

Got the other tranny line cracked loose.
Will be draning the radiator and all that momentarily.

Anyone know exactly where the o-rings go?
(hopefully this will become obvious to me once I have things apart)

[andymac0035]

Well, new radiator is in, but I can't get one of the tranny-line fittings to seal. (The larger end that goes on the radiator.)
Gonna try teflon tape on the threads.

[andymac0035]

Teflon tape seems to be working.

[1987cp]

Teflon on the actual fitting-to-line connections? Seems odd. Now you got me curious; got any pics?

[andymac0035]

I'll take pics when I get the chance.

Basically, the the part/end where the actual tranny line connects uses an o-ring for a seal, and the other end, where it connects to the radiator is where I used the teflon tape. It's a tapered thread, which I'm guessing is that "NPT" stuff I read about? I don't even know what NPT stands for. (would someone tell me please)(thanks).