Is it possible or adviseable to use flex hose for ATF fluid lines to a cooler? My transmission cooler has these HUGE connectors that look like they'll need those AN fittings. That in addition to the fact that I am going to have to make custom lines anyhow due to having the cooler in front of the radiator and changing out my C4 for an AOD makes me thing I should get some braided steel hose as opposed to bending and flaring my own hard-lines. Opinions on this idea?
braided steel flex hose and AN fittings
- Thread starter Edbert
- Start date
thehueypilot
Active Member
I used adapters so I would not have to cut my SS lines. The adapters allowed me to run steel braided hose with AN fittings to my remote trans. cooler without using hose clamps.
Well, since I now have an AOD in her, where would I buy my hard lines from, or rather, what parts should i request? The ones for a 67/C4 would fit the car but will they fit the tranny? The ones for the 91 Mustang will fit the tranny but not the car...
Anyone?
Anyone?
I just ran into the same dilema...I went to the local speed shop with the intent of biting the bullet for the steel braided and once I told them what I wanted to do they pulled out this blue high pressure hose, kind of shiny but tuff as hell plus it matches all the blue hoses and wires in the eng. compartmernt, anyway they said it's used all the time for automatice trans cooler hoses..took all of 15 minutes to measure, cut, install and clamp..was like $6.00ft bought 12 feet and have xtra left over. for reference this in on a 66 w/5.0 & AOD
Thanks for the replies fellas. I gave up on trying to figure out what to order and how to assemble this myself and for the first time consulted with the sales reps at Summit and Jegs. Unfortunately they couldn't help either, so I am turning to the collective intellect and experience here with a couple more questions.
1.) I have a stock gas tank and a carb. From what I can tell all of the braided steel hoses require AN type fittings, which is fine for me, I don't mind the additional expense at this point and I've always liked the apprearance. But since my stock tank and the carb are not already configured for a high-pressure fuel system like an EFI would be; the connections are not what it needed for an AN fitting. So, how do I replace my hard fuel line with a braided hose and more specifically connect one end to a stock fuel tank and the other to my carb?
2.) My ATF cooler has these huge connectors that are quite different from a stock radiators ATF connections. I was inspecting them and found them to be very much like a compression fitting for a gas dryer, so I grabbed a brass peice out of a gas dryer connection kit and it fit! This might actually not be as much of an issue for me since I beleive the AN type fittings follow the same principle. So the end that connects to the cooler is easy (right?), but what about the other end? I have a TCI-AOD which uses factory type connections for the fluid lines. SHould I just get a roll of that universal hard-line and make my own like DPMAZ suggested? I like that idea, cheap easy and good-looking...nothing wrong there! But if my cooler REQUIRES an AN connection I'm in the same boat as with my fuel line, meaning how does one adapt a small hard-line (the type that takes a rubber hose with hose clamps like the factory fuel line) to a braided hose or an AN fitting?
I'm sorry to have to ask what seem to be rather basic questions, but neither Summit nor Jegs could give me a parts list so maybe it is not THAT easy after all. I wish we had a local speed or pro-shop here, but Austin is like the politically correct capitol of Texas and even driving a gas powered car is frowned upon. I'm guessing that if there were a speed shop it would be picketed by the greenpeace types that control the city
Anyhow, throwing this out to the Stangnet community for help. Anyone?
1.) I have a stock gas tank and a carb. From what I can tell all of the braided steel hoses require AN type fittings, which is fine for me, I don't mind the additional expense at this point and I've always liked the apprearance. But since my stock tank and the carb are not already configured for a high-pressure fuel system like an EFI would be; the connections are not what it needed for an AN fitting. So, how do I replace my hard fuel line with a braided hose and more specifically connect one end to a stock fuel tank and the other to my carb?
2.) My ATF cooler has these huge connectors that are quite different from a stock radiators ATF connections. I was inspecting them and found them to be very much like a compression fitting for a gas dryer, so I grabbed a brass peice out of a gas dryer connection kit and it fit! This might actually not be as much of an issue for me since I beleive the AN type fittings follow the same principle. So the end that connects to the cooler is easy (right?), but what about the other end? I have a TCI-AOD which uses factory type connections for the fluid lines. SHould I just get a roll of that universal hard-line and make my own like DPMAZ suggested? I like that idea, cheap easy and good-looking...nothing wrong there! But if my cooler REQUIRES an AN connection I'm in the same boat as with my fuel line, meaning how does one adapt a small hard-line (the type that takes a rubber hose with hose clamps like the factory fuel line) to a braided hose or an AN fitting?
I'm sorry to have to ask what seem to be rather basic questions, but neither Summit nor Jegs could give me a parts list so maybe it is not THAT easy after all. I wish we had a local speed or pro-shop here, but Austin is like the politically correct capitol of Texas and even driving a gas powered car is frowned upon. I'm guessing that if there were a speed shop it would be picketed by the greenpeace types that control the city
Anyhow, throwing this out to the Stangnet community for help. Anyone?
302 coupe
Founding Member
the instructions that came with my ATI converter specifically said not to use braided hose. Not really sure why, said something about undetectable blockages. 
I always use hard steel lines when possible, they look clean and neat when properly done plus you don't have to worry about something poking a hole in them. They are simple and don't require expensive fittings, and there is no wire to poke my finger. Cost is low as well.
I always use hard steel lines when possible, they look clean and neat when properly done plus you don't have to worry about something poking a hole in them. They are simple and don't require expensive fittings, and there is no wire to poke my finger. Cost is low as well.
1320stang
Founding Member
I would recommend NOT using braided line for your complete fuel line. A buddy of mine has a 10 sec. '66 coupe drag car and had put in, from fuel cell to carb, SS braided line. After a year or two, the line developed a leak somewhere, it was hard to determine where as viscosity drew the fuel along the braid to the lowest point before it dripped off. Common sense tells you it has to be at the end where the fitting is. Take the fitting off, cut the end off, replace the fitting and go on, still a leak. Removed fitting, trimmed, bought new fitting, replaced, still a leak. Cut the hose back a bit, bought a straight connector and replace the last foot or so with new hose, still a leak. Tried it again with a 2 foot piece of hose, still a leak. Tore it all off and put 1/2 aluminum line on it and rolled up the 18' of now useless hose since it's not apparent where the hole is.
Good advice, I'm sold on a hard line for the fuel, the stock one is gonna have to come out though. I found that I wont be able to get up to much less over 400fwhp with the small ID line But it can stay in there for now until i get the car started and sorted out.
The question still remains for how to adapt a hard line to a braided one though. My trans cooler seems to require AN fittings, and if I have to make my own lines for the ATF how to I convert?
But it can stay in there for now until i get the car started and sorted out.The question still remains for how to adapt a hard line to a braided one though. My trans cooler seems to require AN fittings, and if I have to make my own lines for the ATF how to I convert?
Pbum5
Member
Edbert said:Good advice, I'm sold on a hard line for the fuel, the stock one is gonna have to come out though. I found that I wont be able to get up to much less over 400fwhp with the small ID line
The question still remains for how to adapt a hard line to a braided one though. My trans cooler seems to require AN fittings, and if I have to make my own lines for the ATF how to I convert?
Maybe an 37 degree Flaring kit designed for AN fittings would do the trick.
http://store.summitracing.com/defau...earchinresults=false&N=0&target=egnsearch.asp
ozstang65
Founding Member
I've been doing some research for my own fuel system recently, these sites migth be of some help:
For Fuel line and pump sizing as well as return vs dead-head regulators:
http://www.centuryperformance.com/fuel.asp
I've got one of these for brake lines, they're expensive (if you live here
) but they are trully brilliant. I might have to get one for AN Fittings soon:
http://www.rothenberger-usa.com/09.html
and for some general AN hose/fitting tech:
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/howto/4399/
have a good look through here - it lists all the hose types and uses:
http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLine/Products/EPP/EPPH/EPPH.html
Good Luck
For Fuel line and pump sizing as well as return vs dead-head regulators:
http://www.centuryperformance.com/fuel.asp
I've got one of these for brake lines, they're expensive (if you live here
) but they are trully brilliant. I might have to get one for AN Fittings soon:http://www.rothenberger-usa.com/09.html
and for some general AN hose/fitting tech:
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/howto/4399/
have a good look through here - it lists all the hose types and uses:
http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLine/Products/EPP/EPPH/EPPH.html
Good Luck
Great post OZ, a wealth of information there, thanks!ozstang65 said:
For about the millionth time...THANKS TO THE GURUS OF STANGNET!
My mechanical fuel pump and my transmission cooler both use 3/8NPT fittings, so I can buy the NPT-to-AN adapters.
I still have two questions left to finalize my plumbing...
Does anyone know what size fittings I need to connect my fluid lines to the AOD?
Second question; will 1/2 inch tubing be too large for ATF lines? I know the stock ones are thinnner (3/8 or 5/16), so will larger lines flow too much fliud and mess up the pressures?
69 302/351c
Founding Member
I went from the fittings on the radiator end of my stock trans lines to braided lines connecting to the front of radiator mounted trans cooler. 5 years running and no problem. Since the lines are fairly short, not much worry in detecting potential leak.
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