OneFine89Mustang

i replaced my radiator and i am having trouble reconnecteing the trans cooling lines into the radiator. the threads are fine but everytime i screw it in it gets a little tight but when i goes to use the wrech to tighten it they pop out. any tricks to get these lines in...
thanks

Derf00

careful you don't cross-thread the radiator!![&:] The trick is you need three hands. [:'(] Actually what you need is someone to hold the line itself pushed in and flush with the flare fitting on the opposite end while you hand thread the nut. Once you get it in there snugged by hand they can let go while you go at it with the wrench.

Some of those lines are pain in the **** if you are even slightly off dead center and need to 'crank' it a bit to get it to go in. If you're not careful you'll waste (strip) the first few thread on the tranny cooler side and make a 'pop-out' happen while you're driving around since there won't be enough thread holding it.

If you only have two hands, use one hand to push the line all the way into the tranny cooler til it sits in the way it's supposed to then tighten the nut by hand only, until it's as tight as you can get it. That way you know it's nice and started. Then...wrench away.