64' Transmission lines?

[Tlentz]

Anyone have a recommendation for pre-fab transmission lines supplier?  Stainless or OEM.  Thanks

[Dan LeBlanc]

My experience, and a lot of others here also, with pre-fabricated is that it's hit and miss.

I ordered a pre-fab fuel line for my 61 Fleetwood to replace the steel line where someone spliced in an electric fuel pump. It was roughly close for the first 8" to the original, but it ended up somewhere past the radiator support, so not even close.

A roll of steel line and a bending tool using your originals as a pattern will yield much better results and set you back less than pre-fabbed that aren't even close. 

[Scot Minesinger]

The short answer is "In-Line Tube", best to buy from USA Parts or other reputable supplier because if they are not right you can generally return them for credit.  Whereas a purchase direct from manufacturer is more troublesome on returns.  Plus the price is about the same.

Dan is right, the results are not often not that great or consistent.  Replaced fuel lines front to back on one of my 1970 Cadillacs back in 2010 and it went OK, but difficult.  Then in 2013 did it again on another from same supplier and it was no good.

The 64 is one of the most collected Cadillac years so they may get that right, yet trans lines are often neglected and seldom ordered.

I would order a set and then if they do not look right, return them and make your own.  The upside gain is a lot of time saved, the down side risk is that you don't save any time and make your own, plus lost time fooling with parts supplier.  The trouble is that many tube suppliers get a pattern from a four year span and it is perfect for the one year and OK- to close on the other three years - manufacturer cannot have a pattern for each year - too much capital tied up in consideration of the return on investment.  Then there is the worker discrepancy issue too in bending the tubing. 

If your car drives now, do not render your car undriveable by removing the lines until you have what you think could be a correct replacement set of tubing lines or are prepared to start bending your own.  Things like this have a way of keeping your car off the road for weeks.

[62 driver]

OPGI Is where I purchased my 1962 lines from. They get them else where as they said I had to wait will some were being made for them. Mine were smashed and kinked up.  They worked out for me. I purchased aluminum but would look at stainless steel next time. I had rubber hose connections on the transmission and the lines came with female fitting. I cut the line and all is well.  By the way my spare transmission has fitting on it and not rubber hose connections.

[Dan LeBlanc]

Dave

That would indicate your spare transmission is a 1961.

[62 driver]

Thanks Dan! I was wondering about that as I posted this. Good to know.

[Scot Minesinger]

I would not do stainless steel. 

Yes they are cosmetically better, but they can be difficult to seal even on double flair compression fittings because st st is a hard metal.  The galvanized steel lines have a brass or copper liner so they will never rust from inside like original steel lines may have.  The galvanized lines seal better.  On fuel lines front to back st st is Ok for sealing because rubber connections both ends, however they do have to be moved a little and again st st is not friendly in that area.

I would not use aluminum because it fatigues and is not as heat resistant as steel.

[62 driver]

Sound like good advice.  I never looked at it that way.

[Tlentz]

Thanks all for the great advice.  Its been sitting for a year since I sent a piston throught the block on the freeway a year ago.  Made for a great apportunity to test my patience and paint the engine bay.   Got another block from a 64' and rebuilt it along with the transmission.  Put it in today, unfortunatley Im a spaz when it comes to taking things apart and I bent my lines.  With the new tranny rebuilt I would feel better with new lines anyway.  Thanks for the advice!

[Tlentz]

Pic 2

[Tlentz]

pic 3

[Tlentz]

pic 4

[Jason Edge]

The 1964 Hydramatic Lines vs the 1964 Turbo Hydramatic lines are quite different in that the Hydramatic (used on 62 series, 75 series and Commercial chassis) ended a few inches before the transmission fittings and used short rubber hoses (about 2 1/2" to 3" long as I recall) wiht tower clamps.  The Turbo Hydramatic used on Devilles, and Fleetwood Eldorado's and Sixty Specials) were metal from end to end.

An example the rear end of the Hydrmatic lines can be seen in the picture below.