Transmission cooler lines

doghows72

Bronco Guru

Joined

Jan 5, 2005

Messages

2,036

• Jul 7, 2016

• #1

What has everyone been doing for their trans lines?
Running hard lines or soft? Goods bads?? Mine are only going to be about four feet long and obviously soft lines will be easiest.
I'm not opposed to hard lines if there is a good reason so show me what ya got. Thanks

 

NC-Fordguy

Bronco Guru

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Jan 30, 2006

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Loc.

Bethel/Greenville NC

• Jul 7, 2016

• #2

doghows72 said:

What has everyone been doing for their trans lines?
Running hard lines or soft? Goods bads?? Mine are only going to be about four feet long and obviously soft lines will be easiest.
I'm not opposed to hard lines if there is a good reason so show me what ya got. Thanks

Click to expand...

I've always used hard brake line. Cheap, durable and effective.

 

DJs74

Bronco Guru

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Apr 1, 2014

Messages

1,135

• Jul 7, 2016

• #3

I try to use as much steel line as I can from a durability standpoint, plus steel will help dissipate the heat better whereas rubber might tend to insulate and hold the heat.
Ozone is an important factor for rubber because it causes cracks and degradation - ozone is basically everywhere and is generated with electronics, light and in general in the air.
EPDM rubber = great ozone resistance / not acceptable for trans fluid
NBR rubber = fair ozone resistance / acceptable for trans fluid / economic
FKM rubber = good ozone resistance / great for trans fluid / expensive

If you have a 4 ft. span to cover, maybe try to use 3 feet of steel line and 6" of rubber at each end to make the connection and make the turns.


DJs74

 

Viperwolf1

Contributor

electron whisperer

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Aug 23, 2007

Messages

24,322

• Jul 7, 2016

• #4

I like a combination of both. Hard lines along the frame and soft lines at the ends to isolate vibrations and make hookup and routing easy. Teflon braided hose is superior any other soft hose.

 

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904Bronco

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San Martin, CA

• Jul 7, 2016

• #5

I re-purposed the Explorer ones, minor bending and still have the 3/8 size lines...
Will use short pieces of tranny hose for the connection with the cooler.

 

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5001craig

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Nov 3, 2013

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1,180

• Jul 7, 2016

• #6

I ran mine down the top of the frame to the back and had to go inside the frame where the wheelwell was. This is how I did mine (mock-up at this point).

 

drock

Sr. Member

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Aug 11, 2012

Messages

492

• Jul 7, 2016

• #7

Teflon braided here as well. Super easy to work with.

 

BroncoJimbo

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Long-term owner

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Jun 11, 2014

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Loc.

North GA

• Jul 8, 2016

• #8

I used the SS lines JBG sells. Went on easily enough with some minor adjusting but you will need the proper ends on your radiator which Jeff's stocks.

 

englewoodcowboy

Lick Creek Restorations

Joined

Jul 25, 2010

Messages

4,200

• Jul 8, 2016

• #9

I like both, I ran braided lines on my rig due to how I wanted it to work out. I will run solid lines on a build I am working on now. They each have advantages and problems.

 

K

knack

Contributor

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Feb 2, 2007

Messages

833

• Jul 8, 2016

• #10

I used Thermoid brand transmission cooler hose. From Summit(?) It's been on there for 7 years now, seems to work just fine. Used some rubber coated clamps every foot or so to keep the hoses from moving around and chafing.

3/8" ID. I used some barbed hose fittings at the transmission that I know did come from Summit.

Along with the cooler inside the radiator there is a cooler in front of the radiator, all plumbed with the same hose.

Steel lines are better, I'm sure. But, the easy way has worked fine for me.

 

CBC619

Newbie

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Oct 31, 2017

Messages

8

Loc.

Ventura CA

• May 18, 2019

• #11

Hey Viperwolf Did you use a tranny cooler line kit or just piece it out and if so what size and type fittings and hose did you use?
CBC

 

R

ransil

Bronco Guru

Joined

Sep 6, 2003

Messages

8,122

• May 18, 2019

• #12

I bought a roll of stainless from summit, one of my bad ideas.
hard to bend and hard to flare.
I would use Nicop if I did it again, running rubber on the trail bronco at the moment

 

Broncobowsher

Total hack

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Jun 4, 2002

Messages

34,878

• May 18, 2019

• #13

Metal lines do offer a good bit of extra cooling capacity. My '77 F250 has about 6' of hard line looped around as the only power steering cooler. Older designs used a small 2-pass finned cooler. There is cooling capacity in metal lines. Also they are simple and don't rot like rubber.

 

Viperwolf1

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Aug 23, 2007

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• May 18, 2019

• #14

CBC619 said:

Hey Viperwolf Did you use a tranny cooler line kit or just piece it out and if so what size and type fittings and hose did you use?
CBC

Click to expand...

I pieced it together from extras I had laying around. Aeroquip -6 teflon hose and steel hose ends, 3/8" tube from a roll, -6 to 3/8" tube adapters. Same stuff I used for the fuel system. Should last forever but not the cheapest way to go. I also used the same hose and hose ends for the PS system. If you buy the hose in large lengths it isnt so bad.

 

CBC619

Newbie

Joined

Oct 31, 2017

Messages

8

Loc.

Ventura CA

• May 26, 2019

• #15

Tranny Cooler Lines

Viperwolf
Looks Good Buddy Thank You For The Info