i dont seem to have one? its supposed to be located on one of the lines running into the radiator on the pass. side of the rad. right? i have a factory trans cooler and i dont see anything running to that either that looks like a check valve. is it possible i just dont have one?

 

You have one, unless a previous rebuild took it out.

There are several check valve deletes in the DIY section. Look at the pics there. It's in a brass fitting on the hot line. Post pics of your lines on the passenger side of the engine bay down low where the hard lines meet the rubber lines and someone can confirm for you.

 

Has anyone had any problems just drilling it out?

 

I just did mine last week.. no problems at all.. the spring behind the little rubber ball is going to want to stay in there.. get you a set of those little dental looking tools-(one is a little spike, one a hook, and one somewhere slightly bent).. they will make short order of that thing...

blow it out good with compressed air, or a $3 hooker, and you're good. Personally, I prefer this method over clamps that may or may not last forever.. just my opinion though.

 

I've actually seen some rigs with the factory trans cooler that didn't have them. I don't know if that's the case with the OP, and the one's that I seen looked like it was a factory set up. I could be wrong though.