Hey guys! Ive been trying to remove the motor out of my 2000 V10. I need
to get the transmission cooler lines off the radiator so I can pull it - trouble
is I cant figure out how to disconnect the lines. Ive bought four different
tool kits now, but they all have the same problem. Im sure someone here
has encountered this before, or im clearly not seeing something obvious.

Please help, I need this truck for winter driving!

Okay, as you can see in the pics below the purple tool is too long to fit
between the quick connect and the radiator. So I cut down the gold tool
too fit between the two, but by cutting it, its now too short to reach the
springs. Ive tried these tools, the grey "professional" plastics, the white
"autozone" plastics, and the 45-degree steel wrench tool - every single
one has the same issue - either its too big to fit, or it fits but too short to
reach the springs.

I really dont want to cut the radiator or lines out of the truck but I am
running out of time and options for this swap. Please let me know
your thoughts!

 

I used the plastic AZ ones when i deleted the transmission coolant line check valve. I also eliminated that quick connect and ran my hose to fitting with a clamp. I don't recommend that in your case though. Some fittings were on good and required persuasion. Made sure to tug on the hose off while working the tool. Hopefully it's not too rusty in there. Maybe lube the tool and fitting with Trans. fluid, work it in, and see if it brakes loose. Looks like you are doing it right, it might just be on there real good. Good luck.

 

I used the gold one (3/8ths inch) and it fit in tight..... Try pulling the connector back away from the radiator a bit, then inserting the tool. Push the tool in as far as you can, then shove the fitting TOWARD the radiator first. Pull both back away from the radiator together. The tool will stop at some point, and the fitting should continue to pull off.

 

I apologize - I guess I wasnt clear enough... I know how quick connects
work, i just cannot get this one because of its design.

NONE of the tools fit inside the quick connect because they are too long
to fit between the radiator and connector (see pic with purple tool.) The
plastic ones break when I try to force them, and the metal ones (obviously)
cannot be forced in.

The Gold tool was cut off with a dremel in order to make it fit in the gap
between the connector and fitting. The problem now is that it is not long
enough to reach the springs inside, let alone pry them apart. I have tried
pushing and pulling the hose with pry bars, but the 1/8in wiggle isnt
enough to allow the tools access, or the springs to reach.

Other than the typical tool use, is there another way to pop these
connectors? Ive tried rolling up paper, zip tie straps, bent a piece
of flat metal - all work at popping one spring at a time, but I cannot
get all four simutaniously.

Is there a way to remove those studs from the radiator?

My only other option at this point is to cut either the lines or the radiator...

 

Isn't there a flare nut that holds the tube into the radiator? (been a while, don't remember......)

 

I used the gold one from HF (not modified) to remove/install the check valve hose from the radiator. On the other end of the hose, there is a flare nut setup... so seems like you could just remove the other side from the trans line and get that rad out.

 

FJ5 - Everywhere I look online shows a much bigger gap
on the shafts than what my truck has. Another 1/2in and
EVERY tool I bought (probably) would have worked fine.

Yes the bottom line has a nut fitting that I (think) i can just
unscrew, but its pointless if I cannot get the top one
disconnected... and if I can figure out a way to disconnect
the top one, then I can simply disconnect the bottom.

Question... the large nut holding the QC shafts onto the
radiator - I was told that unscrewing them is a headache.
What happens if I unscrew them? I only ask because all
the new radiators online dont come with those shafts so,
in theory, they must be removable... right?

In the end Im looking for a shadytree/hillbilly way to
remove the quick connect without using the special tool.

 

Yes yours is very short, I just replaced my rad a month ago and both of the rads had at least an inch with the connector on it. Is that an oem rad or aftermarket?