Transmission Cooling Line fitting to new radiator

[ckuske]

Hi Everyone,

Hopefully I'm not asking a stupid question here, but I *think* I may have a situation...

I got my radiator installed - the Champion CC561. It has threads in the radiator to hook the transmission cooling lines into. The threads in the radiator are reported to be 1/4-18 NPT per Champion's site.

I tried to hook the lines up this evening, and the threads wouldn't bite. I didn't force the issue given that the radiator is aluminum.

So, I started digging in all the documentation here (thanks as usual, Gary!). This page seems to indicate that the fittings on the line are 1/4-20. (https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/Transmission-line-connector-E2TZ-7D273-A-NOS-tp69589.html)

Has anyone else run into this issue? What would you do, change the fittings on the lines, or use some kind of adapter? (none jumped out at me in a quick search) How involved would changing the fittings be? It seems I would need to trim the end of the line off and re-flare once the new fittings are on? I've never done that but I guess I'm excited by the opportunity?

[grumpin]

I put a Champion in my truck, the lines threaded right in.

But I had a leak at a union near the fitting. Finally got it to stop.

If it didn’t, I was thinking of putting on a 1/4 barb fitting and double flaring the tube and using a small length of rubber hose.

[FuzzFace2]

I put a Champion in my truck, the lines threaded right in.

But I had a leak at a union near the fitting. Finally got it to stop.

If it didn’t, I was thinking of putting on a 1/4 barb fitting and double flaring the tube and using a small length of rubber hose.

You say "The threads in the radiator are reported to be 1/4-18 NPT per Champion's site."

and as far as I know the fitting on the radiator should be a flare fitting not a NPT.

NPT is a pipe thread and will never take a flare type fitting.

I also have not known of NPT to be listed as 1/4-18 it would be marked 1/4 NPT.

Maybe post up what the line(s) look like and the radiator side the lines go into.

If the radiator dose not have the flare part then you may need to get an adapter from the NPT to flare of the right size, 1/4"?

Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

Chris - Two things. First, I have a Champion in Big Blue and I can measure the thread pitch after church today.

Second, I assume you are reading the bit about the E2TZ 7D273-A connector that says "1/2-20 female x 1/4 NPTF male, for 5/16 dia. tube". That would say to me that the threads on the tube are 1/2-20 and the fittings into the radiator are 1/4 NPT. Right? If so, then can't you use one of those connectors? Didn't your original setup use that connector?

[grumpin]

Chris - Two things. First, I have a Champion in Big Blue and I can measure the thread pitch after church today.

Second, I assume you are reading the bit about the E2TZ 7D273-A connector that says "1/2-20 female x 1/4 NPTF male, for 5/16 dia. tube". That would say to me that the threads on the tube are 1/2-20 and the fittings into the radiator are 1/4 NPT. Right? If so, then can't you use one of those connectors? Didn't your original setup use that connector?

I see 1/4-18 for my (our) radiator.

Here: https://www.championradiators.com/3-row-Ford-Truck-1985-1996

Where is the info about the Ford part number?

[ArdWrknTrk]

I see 1/4-18 for my (our) radiator.

Here: https://www.championradiators.com/3-row-Ford-Truck-1985-1996

Where is the info about the Ford part number?

This?

[grumpin]

This?

Ah, thanks Jim. Interesting!

[ckuske]

Sorry for the confusion guys. I think part of my issue was reading that NPT is 18 threads per inch, while the Ford description mentioned 20 threads per inch with is not NPT. I probably just read things wrong last night.

Anyway, here are the pictures of the radiator and fitting.

I tried to hand thread the connector into the radiator, and it would stop threading. If I tried to apply some forward force into the radiator (push connector in while turning it), same behavior. I may go to the plumbing store and buy a NPT coupler to try and screw in and verify the threads are ok in the radiator.

[ckuske]

Sorry for the confusion guys. I think part of my issue was reading that NPT is 18 threads per inch, while the Ford description mentioned 20 threads per inch with is not NPT. I probably just read things wrong last night.

Anyway, here are the pictures of the radiator and fitting.

I tried to hand thread the connector into the radiator, and it would stop threading. If I tried to apply some forward force into the radiator (push connector in while turning it), same behavior. I may go to the plumbing store and buy a NPT coupler to try and screw in and verify the threads are ok in the radiator.

Sent this on my phone, sorry for the rotation

[ArdWrknTrk]

Sorry for the confusion guys. I think part of my issue was reading that NPT is 18 threads per inch, while the Ford description mentioned 20 threads per inch with is not NPT. I probably just read things wrong last night.

Anyway, here are the pictures of the radiator and fitting.

I tried to hand thread the connector into the radiator, and it would stop threading. If I tried to apply some forward force into the radiator (push connector in while turning it), same behavior. I may go to the plumbing store and buy a NPT coupler to try and screw in and verify the threads are ok in the radiator.

Note that the callout in the Ford parts listing is NPTF

National Pipe Taper, Fuel. It's not a normal NPT fitting.

https://www.buyfittingsonline.com/pages/npt-vs-nps-vs-nptf-thread-connections-the-difference.html#:~:text=National%20Pipe%20Taper%20Fuel%20(NPTF,%22)%20or%20other%20sealant%20compound.

Maybe the Ford adapters are still available?

Would be nice, as they seem to include the O-ring as well.