I got a good deal on a 22" V8 rad, so I just installed it in my /6 Dart. One tranny cooler line hooked right up, the other was about 3" away from the rad fitting so I fabbed up some brass fittings to hook it up (two 90 degree turns). I just refilled the rad, started the car and backed it out of the garage and let it warm up. So far no leaks, but my tranny fluid level is about half is up the dip stick Not sure what to think but I don't want to drive the car like that. Did I mess something up??

_________________
"that's a nice car....are you gonna fix it up some day?"

Did you check the fluid level with the parking brake set, the engine idling and the transmission in Neutral?

_________________
Joshua

That's how I did it Joshie. I had checked it earlier in the spring and it was fine. I really can't see how opening up one of the cooler lines could make a difference. Should I try a drive and see what it does?

_________________
"that's a nice car....are you gonna fix it up some day?"

Here's the update. Its been a couple of hours. I went out and started the car again, let it warm up, put it in neutral. The reading on the dipstick, if I cross my fingers and hold my tongue just the right way, is showing normal now. Just a guess, but I think the air from the empty cooler tank my have been venting out the dipstick and giving a false reading for the first little while. :shrug: I'll check it again in the morning, but for now it seems normal. Thanks for the help Joshie.

_________________
"that's a nice car....are you gonna fix it up some day?"

It never hurts to shift thru all the ranges a couple of times right before checking the trans fluid. Any of the circuits that may have drained out will then be full and the reading should be more accurate.