So here's my problem I'm hoping someone can help me with. I have a '97 dodge ram. On the radiator, the upper transmission line is stripped. It looks like someones been chewing on it. What I need to know is if I can use form-a-thread on it since it's brass? I e-mailed Loctite a while ago but they have yet to reply to it. Also, does anyone know what size of flare nut it takes? Is it an AN fitting, NPT, course, fine or metric? ANY help is appreciated.

 

I have know idea what size it is but, if you have a double flaring tool, you can cut the tip of line off, remove the fitting and go match it up. Slide the new one on, and re- flare the line. I can tell you IIRC , that the line itself is 3/8" .


I just looked at mine, 98 And the flare nut is female not male. You talking about the male fitting coming out of the radiator itself?

 

after looking at the title of this thread i was a little reluctant to click on it... but i did anyway, lol

 

Haha ... I had to read it twice ... but I get it ... scary stuff.

 

LOL, sounds like you have a "small" issue.

 

I have alot of small issues my friend. This is just one of them. In the words of Alice Cooper, "Welcome to my nightmare, I think your gonna like it!!!"

 

if it's a stripped male end, you're pretty much screwed(no pun intended). theres really no way to fix something like that. just replace it. however, if it's the female end, you can try to re-thread it.

 

Well, the problem is that it's part of the radiator, and I really don't feel like paying 2 large (200) just to fix a stripped thread. I think I'll try what zman suggested.

 

anything you can rig up to keep it from leaking is ok. you can use a form a gasket, or try to rethread it, just don't get any metal shavings in it, or jb-weld, or maybe solder ? or maybe a tig weld, maybe teflon tape.

the transmission line is not real high pressure, so if you can get the fitting started and then glob on a bunch of jb-weld, it might hold.

if is the male pipe end, you can get one from a junk yard, and just cut the hoses and splice on new hose with clamps. just be sure and use auto trans hose.

 

you can flare fittings together, but if its a threaded fitting coming out of the radiator, good luck. i've never know to have flared a threaded pipe...might crack as well.