trans fluid to radiator fitting

[weq92f]

I'm getting very close now to installing my Champion CC369 but can't seem to find the correct fittings for the tranny cooler built into it.

In the documentation for this, the fittings for the radiator lines are described as:
.....
.....1/2" 20 STRAIGHT THREAD G1/4
.....

I ordered what I though should work from summit but what I got looks more like the fittings that would screw into the 700r4 tranny, not the radiator. My old 4 core copper/brass radiator had the lines connected via two small brass fittings that made the connection from the line to the radiator. These fittings will screw into my new Champion radiator but they aren't going to make a seal as the threads do not really mesh very well and the fitting is loose once threaded in there ( like the threads are incompatible ).

What is the fitting I need for this radiator? In the pics below I'm showing the lines from the tranny and the brass fittings I have that will connect to the lines but don't really connect properly to my new radiator.

Appreciate any help you guys can offer here. Thanks,

-klb

[weq92f]

According to this document:

http://fuelab.com/understanding-fuel...apered-thread/

What I need is a "port-fitting" or one that has straight thread on one end ( sealed with an O-ring ) that goes into the radiator and the cone end has straight thread and a 37 degree cone to go into the line.

If that is correct, the brass fittings I have ( the ones I took off the old radiator ) are incorrect as they do not seal with an O-ring against the radiator bung/boss.

Looks like the "1/2" 20 STRAIGHT THREAD G1/4" is the standard definition of an in-radiator tranny cooler connection.

Can you guys point me in the right direction? I don't want to replace my lines because I can't get a fitting to attach them to my new radiator.

What gives?

-klb

[weq92f]

Just called Champion Radiator/LeadFoot Racing at their support line: 714 974 1650, with simple question about what do I need to use to get the tranny lines hooked up.

The guy that answered the phone, claiming to be the owner of the company, totally blew me off like I'm some idiot.

Wow! The guy doesn't even know what standard fitting I need?

Anybody?

-klb

[54blackhornet]

I would call the guy back, explain that unless you assist me in correct part to use your product, I will have to let everyone on the internet know about your total lack of customer support....

[Getter-Done]

Do you have a Thread pitch gage?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/IRWIN-Stand...ools-_-1000357

With a pitch gage in hand maybe the local parts stores could help.

[weq92f]

The guy, turns out, is a re-seller rather than the manufacturer. Still...

Looking down in the hole in the radiator, I see that there is a flare down in there ( inverted flare? ). The fitting I took off my old radiator has the corresponding flare to match that but the threads are incompatible.

This is the key:

1/2" 20 STRAIGHT THREAD G1/4

I think this means:

1/2": the bung size in the radiator for the tranny cooler
20: thread count or something to describe the threads
STRAIGHT THREAD: parallel rather than tapered thread
G1/4: again, describing the threads here I think?

However, nothing describes the properties of the flare and how to match up a fitting with it so that it seals properly.

I don't know if the fitting needs to seal at the threads, at the flare or with an O-ring.

This is not rocket science methinks. There are millions of these fittings in use right now. Surely somebody can make sense out of the above to help me determine what I need.

Thanks,

-klb

[weq92f]

Unfortunately no. All the parts counters around me are useless unless and until you give Year, Make and Model and are looking for something they have on their computer screen.

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

Do you have a Thread pitch gage?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/IRWIN-Stand...ools-_-1000357

With a pitch gage in hand maybe the local parts stores could help.

[joeydurango]

I replaced my stock radiator with a Summit-sourced one that was supposed to be factory correct. It looked the part, and I guess it was factory-fitting correct too, because the factory transmission lines threaded in perfectly and have never leaked. As I recall, they were brass with a tapered seat, similar to what you have in your photos. No experience with the "straight thread, no cone, o-ring" setup you're apparently needing.

If the guys who made/sold you the radiator can't tell you what to get and where to get it, maybe they should receive their radiator back. That seems like a major breakdown in basic customer service to me.

EDIT: You posted the same time as me. Well, okay, that guy was a reseller. He should still know this, or be able to find out. Or, you could call the manufacturer direct.

I think you're on the money with the description - 1/2" x 20 is very straightforward, straight thread sounds to me like they're specifically saying no NPT fittings, and I have no idea on the G1/4. Never seen that before.

[leddzepp]

I have 2 champion cc369 radiators, one in a truck with a th400, the other with a th350. I just reused the brass fittings that were in my oem radiators and have had no issues.

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by weq92f

Unfortunately no. All the parts counters around me are useless unless and until you give Year, Make and Model and are looking for something they have on their computer screen.

Sorry
I forgot about that.
There is only a couple around here that are ok to visit.
Like joey said I think a regular line would work.

[AussieinNC]

1/2" 20 STRAIGHT THREAD G1/4 describes a standard hydraulic hose fitting...see link below...


https://www.grainger.com/product/16P...180901190426:s

[weq92f]

The brass fitting I have threads nicely into the old radiator's female port, nice and tight fitting threads like I expect. The same fitting does not "fit" into the aluminum radiator's female port the same. It will screw in and not allow to be pulled straight out, but it feels like the fitting is too small in diameter to fit properly. See pics. The threads are different between the two radiators.

[AussieinNC]

Just gave "Leadfoot Racing" a blast...not only on this one, but several other instances I have had issue with over past few weeks...

told them to get the lead out...hahaha

"1/2" 20 STRAIGHT THREAD G1/4 is recommended as the fitting for the auto trans cooling lines in several of your radiators....perhaps it would be a good business idea for you to actually stock these fittings in house so your clients don't have to search for weeks to find a fitting....even calling your supposed help line resulted in a "we dont know" response....Graingers stock these as standard hydraulic hose fittings...
https://www.grainger.com/product/16P...180901190426:s

Maybe get the lead out and get some knowledgeable customer service reps...."

[joeydurango]

I definitely hear what you're saying about the threads being different. And I'm definitely not saying the factory fittings should be used with the new radiator (I think Getter may have gotten me confused with LeddZepp).

If I were you, I'd use a precision caliper to measure the bore, a thread gauge to measure the TPI, and see if I could research an adaptor fitting that used those measurements while also being compatible to the factory fitting on the other end. Essentially, a brass plug that turns the aluminum radiator's fitting into the one you need for the tranny lines.

[AussieinNC]

weq...click the link on my previous post...

These bungs are designed for standard hydraulic fitting that seal with an O ring...

Here is the link again

https://www.grainger.com/product/16P...180901190426:s

[joeydurango]

Oh, nice! An adaptor - just male/male, not male/female as I was suggesting. For future reference, you know for certain that smaller male side is compatible with the tranny line fitting?

[weq92f]

That particular one seals with an O-ring. I'm leaning toward thinking this should seal with the flare so that the 1/2" 20 fitting contains a flare that will sit down on the inverted flare down inside the radiator, making the seal.

The other end of the fitting needs to be exactly what I have to match up to the fitting on the end of my lines.

Not sure how to go about measuring it to duplicate but I'll likely need the tool mentioned earlier.

Originally Posted by AussieinNC

1/2" 20 STRAIGHT THREAD G1/4 describes a standard hydraulic hose fitting...see link below...


https://www.grainger.com/product/16P...180901190426:s

-klb

[AussieinNC]

If you want you could simply put a flare seat in the O ring flat end with a suitably sized drill bit...a 3/8 countersink comes to mind...

but seriously,

the flare inside the radiator is factory made in case the auto manufacturer wants to place a pipe with an inverted flare direct into the radiator...

The bung is flat to seal against the hydraulic seat on the fitting...Graingers have them, as to Earls Plumbing etc...

If you have a decent speed shop...not a parts store...near you I would give them a try.

I have ten here as I use them all the time on projects...

[weq92f]

Yes.

Thanks,

Originally Posted by joeydurango

Oh, nice! An adaptor - just male/male, not male/female as I was suggesting. For future reference, you know for certain that smaller male side is compatible with the tranny line fitting?

[AussieinNC]

Summit Racing also carry a suitable fitting under

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ear-940006erlp

Its an Earls product, sold as a pair...

These use a flat crushable washer instead of an O ring...

Work well as pressures well under 100 PSI in clloer circuits, even if you use lock up convertor...

Now back to assembling my new trans...6L80E...to go behind my 6.0....

[weq92f]

I purchased these EAR-940006 fittings for 20 bucks thinking they were what I needed. But alas, no. I have them right here and they do not screw into this radiator.

-klb

Originally Posted by AussieinNC

Summit Racing also carry a suitable fitting under

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ear-940006erlp

Its an Earls product, sold as a pair...

These use a flat crushable washer instead of an O ring...

Work well as pressures well under 100 PSI in clloer circuits, even if you use lock up convertor...

Now back to assembling my new trans...6L80E...to go behind my 6.0....

[weq92f]

I asked this guy a question once before about the fans that came with the radiator ( something his company does make and market ). I wanted to purchase a pigtail with the standard plug for my harness to nicely finish off the fan wiring rather than just have raw leads coming out of the fans.

He told me he sells them as part of his relay kit. That was it. No offer to help in any way other than to say basically if I'd bought his relay kit, I'd have gotten those pig tails. Whatever, I found them elsewhere.

Guess I'll still recommend Champion products, but not LeadFoot.

-klb

Originally Posted by AussieinNC

Just gave "Leadfoot Racing" a blast...not only on this one, but several other instances I have had issue with over past few weeks...

told them to get the lead out...hahaha

"1/2" 20 STRAIGHT THREAD G1/4 is recommended as the fitting for the auto trans cooling lines in several of your radiators....perhaps it would be a good business idea for you to actually stock these fittings in house so your clients don't have to search for weeks to find a fitting....even calling your supposed help line resulted in a "we dont know" response....Graingers stock these as standard hydraulic hose fittings...
https://www.grainger.com/product/16P...180901190426:s

Maybe get the lead out and get some knowledgeable customer service reps...."

[AussieinNC]

Was this a special build radiator?

What is the part number on the radiator...?

I have two CC 369 rads here in projects and both accepted the Earls fittings....snug and no leaks...

Beginning to believe this radiator is not marked correctly...

Do you have a good hardware store near you ?

Go buy yourself a 1/2" 20 TPI bolt...it should screw directly into the radiator bung...

If its as loose as the fitting is... send the radiator back to the seller and find another source...

Not a plug...but old jeggy always looks after me

https://www.jegs.com/i/Champion-Cool...CC369/10002/-1

Have them send you the fittings as well....

[weq92f]

Here's the Earls part quoted above that I already ordered. It's definitely not 1/2" 20 threads ( either the Earls part that I bought or the radiator bung in the aluminum radiator ) because the Earls piece doesn't screw in there.

[weq92f]

Oh also.... The Earls part will not screw into either radiator's ports.