My brother just checked the tranny fluid level and my car has way too much fluid. Anyway, we want to drain some of the fluid by disconnecting the intake line into the rad, slide a flex hose while the motor is running and use it to drain into a pan. Problem is he can't remember which line is the intake line and which one drains back to the tranny. There are 2 metal lines going into the rad one at the top and one on the bottom. Which one is the intake line that we can slide the flex hose over to drain after disconnecting?

Thanx guys for your help and willing to hear other suggestions that does not involve opening up the tranny pan

TH350 Transmission
350 2-bbl
1969 Cutlass S

 

the bottom line comes from the transmission and the top line goes back to the transmission. unhook the bottom line and hook the hose to it.

 

If you unhook either line fluid will come out, from the radiator or the line.
Dont pump too much out and run the transmission too low.
In my experience the output line goes to the top of the radiator btw.

Roger.

 

Remove the lower line, and place a pan under it, then loosen the upper line to allow some air into the reservoir. If you drain the reservoir on the radiator, you will be removing approximately 1 1/2 pints of fluid. Tighten the fittings and then run the car till the transmission is hot. Check fluid level, and adjust as necessary by removing additional fluid, or adding fluid. It is best if you use a tubing wrench on the fittings, since they are soft and easily distorted.

 

you may want to double check this. if it is hooked up right it will go from the transmission to the bottom of the cooler and out the top of the cooler and back to the transmission.

 

Double checked it, and a few others - all go to the top of the radiator.
I dont think it matters much which way round they go, the principle is to exchange heat in the radiator tank, direction of flow doesn't really matter imo.
Downflow radiators have the trans cooling lines in the bottom tank and go across the tank.
I don't want to quarrel about this, just saying what I've found.

Roger.

 

Thank you gentlemen. You've given me some great help. Appreciate it. Cheers.

 

Just to nail the lid on this:



- Eric

 

I guess I'll have to eat some humble pie now.
I assumed the top line on the trans was the outlet one, thanks Eric - I learned something new today.

Roger.

 

Much easier and cleaner, is to get a small hand pump, stick the suction line in the filler tube, then pull extra fluid out this way. Something like this http://www.harborfreight.com/multi-u...ump-66418.html

 

I'm with mike on this one.

I'd stuff a clear rubber hose down the dipstick tube, and grab the shop vac.

 

SAME here...cleaner/easier by far...the less I mess w/ those lines and their connections, the better! GOOD Luck and keep us posted. GREAT advice and help here as always....what a GREAT FORUM: I always learn more on here everyday than I do anywhere else!

 

I was just about ready to go and loosen the bottom connection when I decided to check this thread again...cheap, simple and multi purpose. Ordered 1 right away. Thanx mate