Hi folks !
TLDR: I need the long tube nut in the pictures. It connects the transmission lines to the radiator.
I have a V6 2004 3.9L automatic, all stock. My radiator was leaking and since I had done small fixes before, I thought it would be an easy job, even for a noob like me, to replace it but it's becoming a nightmare. The tube nut connecting the upper transmission line to the radiator was easy to untighten (see pic) but the lower one was very rusty and I couldn't untighten it even after spraying a lot of lubricant. After a lot of struggle, the nut started breaking into crumbles until I had nothing to grab so I decided to cut the line with a tube cutter thinking that it's no big deal to get a few inches of line and new fittings. Now here comes the problem: I can't find the damn tube nut to connect the line to the radiator ! I've been ransacking the internet in the past couple of weeks and ordered a few tube nuts that looked similar but they don't have the right threads or size so they won't fit into the radiator nut.
Options I've thought about:
1. Where can I buy this little thing ? Where do you guys buy this kind of fittings in general ? Checked Ford's website and couldn't find it. Many parts are discontinued for this model.
2. Does anyone have the part in the picture and is willing to sell it ? I'm in San Jose, CA and I can come pick it up if in Bay Area or pay for the part + shipping if elsewhere.
3. Replace the radiator nut and find a matching tube nut for the line ? Can I find them in pairs that go together somewhere so I don't start guessing again ? I suppose it would also need to take the same line size to keep the same pressure in the transmission.
4. Visit junkyards hoping to find a model like mine. Checked craigslist and nothing there.
Any other options ? I'm getting pretty desperate... Never imagined this part would be so hard to find.
Thanks a bunch ! Wroooom-wroooooom !
TLDR: I need the long tube nut in the pictures. It connects the transmission lines to the radiator.
I have a V6 2004 3.9L automatic, all stock. My radiator was leaking and since I had done small fixes before, I thought it would be an easy job, even for a noob like me, to replace it but it's becoming a nightmare. The tube nut connecting the upper transmission line to the radiator was easy to untighten (see pic) but the lower one was very rusty and I couldn't untighten it even after spraying a lot of lubricant. After a lot of struggle, the nut started breaking into crumbles until I had nothing to grab so I decided to cut the line with a tube cutter thinking that it's no big deal to get a few inches of line and new fittings. Now here comes the problem: I can't find the damn tube nut to connect the line to the radiator ! I've been ransacking the internet in the past couple of weeks and ordered a few tube nuts that looked similar but they don't have the right threads or size so they won't fit into the radiator nut.
Options I've thought about:
1. Where can I buy this little thing ? Where do you guys buy this kind of fittings in general ? Checked Ford's website and couldn't find it. Many parts are discontinued for this model.
2. Does anyone have the part in the picture and is willing to sell it ? I'm in San Jose, CA and I can come pick it up if in Bay Area or pay for the part + shipping if elsewhere.
3. Replace the radiator nut and find a matching tube nut for the line ? Can I find them in pairs that go together somewhere so I don't start guessing again ? I suppose it would also need to take the same line size to keep the same pressure in the transmission.
4. Visit junkyards hoping to find a model like mine. Checked craigslist and nothing there.
Any other options ? I'm getting pretty desperate... Never imagined this part would be so hard to find.
Thanks a bunch ! Wroooom-wroooooom !