C6 plumbing

[Angelo Voltura]

So I'm going through my C6. A friend of mine is hooking me up with a brand new B&M deep pan, and I've already got a B&M super cooler and external transmission filter and I have a few questions.

1. It's been a while since I've torn one of these apart, but I do believe the front line by the bellhousing is the fluid-out line, and the rear line by the tail shaft is the return, correct?

2. Does anyone know off hand what both line input sizes are, into the trans. I believe the stock lines are 5/16 diameter. I need thread/fitting information, flare type, O ring etc, without actually getting out and yanking them. I plan on converting these in/outputs to AN fittings, as with the rest of the lines.

3. Is there any benefit to bypassing the factory radiator cooler, and plumbing the trans directly to the cooler (filter will be in-line). I know the factory cooler in the radiator heats the transmission up quite a bit and ideally they say 170 degrees is the best operating temp for them. Should I bypass it, or run it tandem with the Super Cooler?

For example, the path would be:

[Trans->inline filter->cooler->back to trans]

vs

[Trans->inline filter->to cooler->cooler to radiator->radiator back to trans]


I feel like not bypassing it would be counter productive and the Super Cooler would be a waste.

Thanks for the help guys.

[Gary Lewis]

I don't know the sizes but can probably get them for you tomorrow as I have a C6 I can measure if no one else knows the sizes.  But I don't know which is out and which is in.

As for the cooler in the radiator, it must do something or Ford wouldn't have put it on there.  So I'd put my extra cooler after the radiator cooler.  Knock the temp down a bit with the one in the radiator and then more with the extra one.

[Angelo Voltura]

I have a few C6's kicking around but all in different locations. I am currently without a driving vehicle so getting to them is tough. If you could do that for me it would be much appreciated. I can get my radiator measurements later but I believe those are 1/2x20 inverted flare.


That's also what I was thinking, on my daily I had it setup like the second option.

[Gary Lewis]

I've asked Siri to remind me to get the dimensions at 10 in the morning.

[Angelo Voltura]

Awesome, very much appreciated.  That will go a long way to plumbing this thing.

[kramttocs]

1. Correct
2. If Gary can't get them I have the 4 factory lines (factory aux cooler) that I could get measurements from. I swapped them for stainless.
3. I would keep both coolers connected also. I think it would take a lot to get a c6 too cool.


Report back on how that pan works out. I have the tci on mine but have a b&m on the shelf. I've read about some having issues with the drain being right above the crossmember but I don't recall with what pan that was.

[85lebaront2]

The C6 uses 5/16" lines with inverted flare fittings, flow is out the front line to the cooler then back in the rear for lubrication. Recommended flow for two coolers is transmission to radiator to air cooler then back to the transmission. Darth was set up that way from the factory.

[Angelo Voltura]

kramttocs wrote

1. Correct
2. If Gary can't get them I have the 4 factory lines (factory aux cooler) that I could get measurements from. I swapped them for stainless.
3. I would keep both coolers connected also. I think it would take a lot to get a c6 too cool.


Report back on how that pan works out. I have the tci on mine but have a b&m on the shelf. I've read about some having issues with the drain being right above the crossmember but I don't recall with what pan that was.

Yes I would be interested in knowing just so I can figure out what I need for AN adapters.

85lebaront2 wrote

The C6 uses 5/16" lines with inverted flare fittings, flow is out the front line to the cooler then back in the rear for lubrication. Recommended flow for two coolers is transmission to radiator to air cooler then back to the transmission. Darth was set up that way from the factory.

I thought they were 5/16. Thanks. I'll just have to get adapters to upsize from -5an to -6an for my external filter.

[old55pete]

My Bronco also has a factory installed trans cooler and it is plumbed trans to raidaitor, then to the cooler and back to the trans

[ArdWrknTrk]

Really interesting answers.

I'd thought Mark Kovalsky's answer to this question was cooler first, then radiator because the tranny needed consistent fluid temp in order for peak performance.
(Mark is -was- a second generation transmission engineer first at Roush, then at Ford, during and through the Bullnose era)

Not that I'm a fan of slush boxes, but the C6 is hella stout, and there are times I wished I had one.
Like sitting in traffic or plowing.

[Gary Lewis]

I'd forgotten about Mark's comment.  Good point.  

[Angelo Voltura]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Really interesting answers.

I'd thought Mark Kovalsky's answer to this question was cooler first, then radiator because the tranny needed consistent fluid temp in order for peak performance.
(Mark is -was- a second generation transmission engineer first at Roush, then at Ford, during and through the Bullnose era)

Not that I'm a fan of slush boxes, but the C6 is hella stout, and there are times I wished I had one.
Like sitting in traffic or plowing.

That makes more sense to me than plumbing to the radiator first. Anyone have a chance to get thread pitches yet? I need to get me a tool with a bunch of those bad boys to make that stuff easier.

[kramttocs]

Sorry, actually moved those lines around today during some cleaning but forgot. Will try to tomorrow.

[Angelo Voltura]

kramttocs wrote

Sorry, actually moved those lines around today during some cleaning but forgot. Will try to tomorrow.

No rush sir.

[Gary Lewis]

Angelo Voltura wrote

Anyone have a chance to get thread pitches yet? I need to get me a tool with a bunch of those bad boys to make that stuff easier.

Oops.  I thought Bill had answered that and so I didn't look.  But will in a bit - after a couple of cups of java and some cereal.  Sorry.

Scott - I can easily do it w/o any leaks or drips.  Let me.

[Gary Lewis]

Ok, I just checked.  This site says that the measurements on the first line are for 1/2-20 flares. And the measurements on the second line, in bold, are what I found on my C6 and cooling tubes.


MALE THREAD
OD & PITCH     DASH SIZE  MALE THREAD OD           FEMALE THREAD ID       TUBE SIZE

1/2 – 20               -08           12,7    0.50                       11,4   0.44                  5/16
My measurements                     0.495                               0.453                5/16

[Angelo Voltura]

Gary Lewis wrote

Ok, I just checked.  This site says that the measurements on the first line are for 1/2-20 flares. And the measurements on the second line, in bold, are what I found on my C6 and cooling tubes.


MALE THREAD
OD & PITCH     DASH SIZE  MALE THREAD OD           FEMALE THREAD ID       TUBE SIZE

1/2 – 20               -08           12,7    0.50                       11,4   0.44                  5/16
My measurements                     0.495                               0.453                5/16

Interesting Gary. Those thread ID's make me wonder if they changed much through the years. This particular transmission is a 1976 model.

Looks like I will have to get some 1/2x20 NPT inverted flare to -6an hose adapters and upside the hose from 5/16 to 3/8. Trick will be finding an adapter with an O ring. Any downside to running the whole system as hose vs hardline? I'm still trying to figure out exactly where I want to mount the external filter.

[Gary Lewis]

This transmission is from an '85.  But I doubt things changed much over the years.

As for hose vs hard line, the hard line will help a bit with cooling, but otherwise I see no downside to using the proper hose, meaning one rated for that fluid and those temps.

[Angelo Voltura]

Gary Lewis wrote

This transmission is from an '85.  But I doubt things changed much over the years.

As for hose vs hard line, the hard line will help a bit with cooling, but otherwise I see no downside to using the proper hose, meaning one rated for that fluid and those temps.

I'm using all stainless braided hose on everything that has fluids running through it.

[Gary Lewis]

I know when I bought hose a few years ago one of the hoses was rated for transmission coolers.  Is your braided hose rated for that?