After some other projects I obviously angered the old steel trans cooler lines and one had developed a leak. So I bought and installed one of Jims trans cooler setups. Installation was a breeze but I'd like to make a couple of recommendations to anyone looking to do one of these. #1 Don't try installing the socketless ends into cold hoseou: Do yourself a favor and bring out a hair dryer to warm the hose up a bit. #2 If I had to do it all over again I would have installed the lines through the frame first like Jim's instructions tell you to. BUT I would not install any of the hose ends yet. Next I'd put the ends that attach at the radiator on and tighten them up. Then pull the slack hose back toward the trans and do the final cutting and hose end installation under the car. This allows you plenty of hose to hold onto at all 4 ends to push the connectors into the hose ends. My only real concern with the kit was the "BLUE" hose. Black is available but is only rated at like 225 degrees versus 300 for the blue. Problem is I didn't care for the looks of the blue. So I went with the blue but I put black heat shrink tubing over the hose where it was visible under the hood. Also added a little extra where I thought there might be a rub point. This hose probably doesn't need any extra abrasion resistance but I had extra so why not. Also installed a new thermostate while I had the warm weather and I spilled a bit of coolant which became very appearant when I took the pics. regards
Ken, Lookin' good! JW made me install mine not knowing if they would work in the B bodies:laugh::laugh: The only thing I wasn't able to do like you was route them hrough the frame, and I wasn't about to comprimise the structure by drilling a 2" hole on one of the curves behind the wheel. Those fittings are really hard to get on without the help of something like lube or heat. I had a heck of a time trying to push them on dry. Worked out great though! Now we know how they install on teh B Bodies too:beer
