Thread: Transmission cooling line size

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How much cooling does a turbo 350 behind a stock small block Chev engine need? I am curious, and for the following reason. When I had my radiator built, I used a rad from a 6 cylinder Chrysler, and had it re-cored with a 3 row core. The reason for choosing this rad was primarily because it fit well into a 32 grillshell. Now as I get closer to plumbing everything and firing the engine in my roadster pickup, I have discovered that the fittings in the bottom of the rad will only accept a 1/8" inside diameter steel line. The stock G.M. lines are 1/4" inside diameter. Is this going to be an issue? I certainly don't want to pull the rad and change it, and in a pinch I can always add a small auxilary transmission cooler and hang it on the inside of the passenger side frame rail, if I have to. I simply don't know what is necessary here. The best solution of course, is for me to use reducer fittings at the rad, and do nothing else, but I don't want to cook a tranny. Does anyone out there have some knowledge to offer on this?

ONe option would be to not use the raditator cooler at all and just pick up an external tranny oil cooler and pipe that up.

Originally posted by brianrupnow
How much cooling does a turbo 350 behind a stock small block Chev engine need? I am curious, and for the following reason. When I had my radiator built, I used a rad from a 6 cylinder Chrysler, and had it re-cored with a 3 row core. The reason for choosing this rad was primarily because it fit well into a 32 grillshell. Now as I get closer to plumbing everything and firing the engine in my roadster pickup, I have discovered that the fittings in the bottom of the rad will only accept a 1/8" inside diameter steel line. The stock G.M. lines are 1/4" inside diameter. Is this going to be an issue? I certainly don't want to pull the rad and change it, and in a pinch I can always add a small auxilary transmission cooler and hang it on the inside of the passenger side frame rail, if I have to. I simply don't know what is necessary here. The best solution of course, is for me to use reducer fittings at the rad, and do nothing else, but I don't want to cook a tranny. Does anyone out there have some knowledge to offer on this?

i wouldnt use the 6 cyl. rad. cooler by itself. you probably could get by with it but i wouldnt take the chance. add a cooler with the rad. or do as 73rs said and just run the external cooler.

ps- the v8 coolers is not very big and the 6cyl. is even smaller.

chy radiators have adapters that screw into the radiator
They use 5/16 steel line with internal threaded nuts.