I have to connect the two transmission lines that go to the radiator. My problem is I can only put my car on jack stands and being I am on a creeper I have only about 2.5 " of room to reach in and start threading them in. I took the advice from "88turbo" and bought a set of tubing wrenches. Part of the exhaust is right in the way, so what I will probably need to do is make some room so I can put some leverage on the nuts. I have everything disconnected all the way to the radiator. I'm sure you guys have done this countless times, so I am wondering how I can make this as easiest as possible with what I have to work with. Thanks!
Sorry guys, I just read this again and it doesn't sound right. The two lines I need to connect are the ones on the passenger side of the transmission, (they really are a "B"). Sounds like I'm having problems hooking up the radiator (lol). Anyway, I figure I'll try the new tool out and if that doesn't work, I'll start taking the exhaust apart so I can finish up. Thanks!
Sometimes i drop the rear cross member and let the tranny hang down a couple of inches. This always seems to give you that extra room needed to work. Just another suggestion other than dropping the exhaust.
Tom,
My guess is I will only need the couple inches your talking about. That's great! Well, it's time for me to go to work! Thanks, again!!
Well, lowering the transmission cross member would only give me even less space to work in. I thought that maybe I had put the starter in too soon and that maybe the transmission lines were hitting it and stopping them from lining up so I could start the threads. I took the starter back off and jacked the engine up again and that seemed to give me a little more room to work. I tried using the new wrenches I bought but they were too big. I had better luck using a 6" adjustable. I tried everything I could think of to get the threads to line up with no luck. All I can figure is they must have been bent somehow. Well, tomorrows another day... At least if and when this is done I will be ready to button it up and go down to emissions.
Today I tried the flare tubing wench again, vise grip, disconnecting the lines, re-connecting the lines, raising the engine and transmission, 6" adjustable wrench, lowering the transmission, wiping off the threads, spraying off the threads with brake cleaner, praying, cussing, for about another (3) hours to no avail. I tried taking the exhaust system apart but I would need a torch or I could bust the nuts and buy new ones. There is a small tubing that is connected to my exhaust and it is right in the way, but I figure I would need to torch it also. With as much grease as there still is on my chassis, I might as well stick a rag in the tank and just light it (not an option). I have up my mind that working from a creeper sucks! Think I'll go watch a movie...
Are you trying to connect the transmission lines to the transmission or are you trying to disconnect them??? Please advise!!
I thought he was trying to put them on....originally
All I have left is to put the transmission lines on, fill with transmission fluid, install new starter, install motor mount bolts, mount the transmission shift bracket and I should be done.
Take them loose from the radiator and connect them to the tranny first. Then do the radiator.
I tried that. That's why I think they must bent. I also disconnected the bracket next to the starter and removed the starter thinking it might be in the way. It doesn't seem to mater what I do I cannot get the threads to line up. I always try to apply pressure on the threads, but it's like I'm trying to put them into the wrong place.
This might sound like a stupid question, but have did you chase the threads in the transmission and make sure that they threads on both the tube fittings and the transmission itself are not damaged? Do you have loose or unused fittings matching those of the transmissions lines that you can use to make sure that you are able to get the fittings started? are you using teflon thread on the fittings, which might interfere with the threading? If so, how many wraps were used and does it cover the end of the threads?
I'm not using any teflon tape, and every time I try again I check the threads. I'll look around and see if I have another fitting the right size. It doesn't make sense, like I'm in the Twilight Zone...
Try this, take the fittings out of the tranny, start them on the tubes then start them back in the tranny. Leave them loose enough that the fittings will turn on the tubes
I don't think we are talking about the same set up. I have flare tubing with the nuts attached to the tubing. They spin around so that they can be connected to the transmission. So, if the tubing is bent or the threads are stripped, I have a problem. The transmission is threaded on the side. You did give me an idea though... I found a brass connector that I had picked up at a radiator shop a while back. (IF) it is the right size and pitch, it being brass, I should be able to work the male thread, then the female thread separately. If I can get that far, then I should be able the thread the brass into the transmission and the line into the brass. If that works, I just need to pick up another one, do the same and be done. I will try it tonight when it cools off a little. Thanks!
I think I had the same issue, my tranny is from an 88 sport and my lines are from an 86 cougar. its been a few years since I did mine and I probably had the exhaust out of the way when I did it. I cant remember what exactly I did but I remember it was a pain in the butt... mine does have the brass fittings screwed into the tranny.
You can also cut the line and use a compression fitting to make the job easier. Years ago my DAD did transmissions and he used to cut the lines on the ford units then reconnect them with compression fittings. You can also use flex line coming from the tranny by cutting 5/16 brake line in half put app 4 inches long a bubble flair on the other end. This way you can screw the nipple in the tranny with the inverted flaired brake hose and inverted nut. Then use 3 spring clamps on tranny cooler hose and normally at the starter their is a strain relief their. You can cut the line their Bubble Flare it then make that point you connection. From that point you can use the stock line configuration. Those ford lines are a bitch. Also go to a parts store and buy a 5/16 inverted flair nut and try and thread it to your tranny inlet and outlet fittings. This will confirm they are not messed up or cross threaded. Those lines have to be exactly square and straight before they thread on. If not you will cross them. Go easy and always make sure you can thread on at least 4 turns of the nut before using a wrench. I use a crows foot flare nut wrench with an extension and a ratchet to tighten them up after i catch them properly good luck
Well, it rained today but I still got under my car and... I found that brass connector and got under the car and first try by hand, it started to thread into the transmission. I turned it in as far as I could and the male tubing nut did not have enough room to fit in because of that small tube connected to my exhaust (I told you was in the way). So, I disconnected the brass fitting and zip tied the tube fitting to the small tube to pull it back as far as possible, leaving me two hands to work with. I barely got the connector in position and started to turn it, but I could not see if the nut was spinning as well or if it just won't thread. It got too dark to see what I was doing anymore so, tomorrow I should know more. At least I know that the bottom threads on the transmission are alright, if the top are alright also, I should be good. Tom, Thanks for the information about the compression fittings! Also, I appreciate a mechanic verifying that these lines are a bitch. Cool.... there's HOPE!!!
I just went out and tried to thread the line fitting into the brass connector with no luck. I'm going to go buy a couple of compression fittings and try that out. At least I know they will thread into my transmission. Thanks!
Well, I went to the hardware store and the connector I got from the radiator shop has different pitch (threads per inch) than the compression fittings. Is there an automotive compression fitting that your talking about? I'm going to see what I can find at an automotive shop and get the 5/16" inverted flare nut and some tubing.
Hold on, before you go out and get off tanget here.
Reread TOM's response; his recommendation is spot on to get you on track. In an attempt to clarify what the issue is and what needs to be done:
As you have found, reinstalling the trans line as you took it apart is not workable due to space limitations and the stiffness of the trans line itself, those two factors pretty much cause it to be impossible to align the fittings.
Tom's suggestion is to cut the transmission line, so you only have a small piece of line to fish up to the fitting on the trans, which makes aligning the treads much easier (you are no longer fighting the tension of the tubing). The "trick" (if there is one) is to cut the line in a place where it's easy to use the compression fitting to fit the lines back together.
The standard hardware store compression fitting will work, as you are just butting the cut line back together. No other parts or peices should be necessary.
Everyone who's giving suggestions has been in your place and we are empathetic to what a PITA it is! Good luck!
I agree 100% ^^^^^^
Now I've got it! Actually, that's quite ingenious! I just realized that with the stuff I've worked on in my past, I just don't think that way (never do this to an aircraft). There is a place right next to the oil pan where the lines drop down (if that's not too far away). Only, I want to try to keep the fitting out of harms way. Sure glad I've got you guy's covering my back!! I really like reading this forum... lot of great guys and like I said before, you guy's really do know your shiznit.
We collectively know a lot about a lot of things, but have the bruises, cuts and mangles to prove it. ;)
Not to mention Cutting welding bending gluing bolting fabing crushing prying taping heating and a lot of bad words we have been there a hundred times. Good Luck!!!
I used flex lines myself..... made life very easy in a short amount of time
Are you using braided lines? I know that they are a bit on the costly side, but they are probably worth it in the long run. I would imagine them being made for automotive, they would thread right in. OH MAN.... here we go again! Now I'm gonna have to go read up on THAT stuff.... then I'm gonna start thinking... then I'm gonna start dreaming... then I'm gonna start spending more money....