Hello,
I just fired my 327 off in my 1968 belair wagon today. Its my first rebuild in about 15 years. Seems like I got it almost all correct. Fired on the second crank and after the 20 minute breakin time for my comp cams I found a leaking transmission fitting at the radiator. Yuk what a mess! Its a new radiator so im puzzled? Ive temporarly disconnected the lines and routed them togather. I haveny driven the car and wont till its working properly. Is it possible the old factory 5/16 transmission lines and new radiator are a different pitch? Fitting screwed in finger tight just fine, so I tightened down. Any ideas on what to do? Guess im off to the plumbing store for some sort of adapter? Thanks. Drew.

Don't know, but my '69 lines bolt directly into a '94 P30 van aluminum rad with no adapters. I'd get a 'spare' flare nut and see if it spins in without a line first. Then check out the flares for cracks.

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Dave Bradley
www.corvetteforum.net/classics/d1_bradley (http://www.corvetteforum.net/classics/d1_bradley)
'69 SS396 ragtop
'33 3W Coupe
'65 Vette BB Roadster

Does your fitting in the new radiator have any type of sealant on it? (teflon tape) I have done three motors this summer and installed new aftermarket radiators with them. (cheap insurance) I pulled the fittings to check out, and they had a "slight" bit of plummers putty (or something like that)on them, and put teflon tape on them. Seemed to work okay. Hope this helps, good luck!

Flare fittings don't use the threads to seal. It's a taper / force seal on the 45 deg. surfaces of the fitting and the end of the line. I'd suspect a boogered fitting adapter in the radiator. Check the condition of the 45 deg. "cone" in the fitting, and the end of the line as well. Neither should have any irregularities. Also check that the line goes straight in, and is not cocked.

Your right on John D!!, but I was pertaining to the adaptors that come on alot of aftermarket radiators. They have flare seats in them, and were put in the radiator with the putty I mentioned. Some also come with a thin brass washer on the back side that could also be burgered up. I sure these will be looked at closely as well.