This is gonna be a big thread since I don't think I understand how AN fittings work, someone correct me if I am wrong:

NPT to AN adapter, an swivel/hose end, hose, AN swivel/hose end, AN to NPT adpater

is that right ?

got a WHOLE bunch of questions in my head right now about plumbing, want to get rid of all my bare rubber hoses (minus main radiator hoses)

Now I am a bit of a nitpicker, and want to go with AN fittings that are all one color/finish/brand, but it seems that the only fittings I can find that are all Hard Anodized Black (Earls Ano Tuff fittings) don't come with NPT to AN fittings in any colors/finishes but anodized blue and nickel plated from aeroquip.

Also: What size hoses should I be using for what?
My previous heater bypass hose was 5/8" ID, it seems that in AN sizes that means I would need a 5/8" NPT side to thread into the manifold and the water pump, and that I would need a -10AN hose & fittings to maintain the same size, but NO ONE I can find makes 5/8" NPT to -10AN straight adapter fittigs?!? What Should I be doing here?


I need an adapter for all NPT threads to hook up an AN hose correct?

I want to switch to an external trans cooler, rather than risk the mixing of my trans fluid & antifreeze, was planning on getting a B&M, and running AN hoses to it, any recomendations as to what size cooler? Runnin a TH350, plan on weekend strip use.


much help needed, coolant boiling over without heater bypass, don't have a car until i get this fixed fellas!

Thanks a bunch

[ 03-10-2005, 08:18 PM: Message edited by: aonghus ]

1/2" NPT to -10 AN for the manifold heater hose adapter is what I use.

Don, do you use all one finish/color from adapter to hose ends ?
edit: just looked at your sig again, durrrrr

edit?: is it futile for me to try and find all one type/color/finish AN fittings ?

(I was wrong on the adapter fitting size, you are right just tripled checked, too much damn coffee this mornin' ;) )

[ 03-10-2005, 08:33 PM: Message edited by: aonghus ]

I just use the blue adapters with Aeroquip red and blue fittings.

I've never seen any other color than blue for the adapters.

Those pics in my sig are old, this is what I use now:

http://hometown.aol.com/zz430droptop67rs/images/becool%2085%20009.jpg

Wow, that's beautiful.

aonghus, if you are careful you can place one big order from summit or jeg's for whatever you want.

If you prefer, a few companies are doing these in polished alluminum now.

Also, a company called Pi-Thon makes a 2 peice compression fitting that looks like AN stuff, but clamp onto a standard hose barb, and Spectre makes braided hose for low pressure applications in standard (3/8, 5/8, etc.) sizes.

This stuff is lots cheaper than AN, and AN is serious overkill, the stuff was made for hydraulic lines on airplanes!!

If you look at Don's pic, the Pi-Thon fittings look like the ones on his rad hose.

I don't much care about my radiator hoses appearing to be AN fittings or even steel sleeved, I just am not digging the whole blue/red look of AN fittings, really wanted to go hard anodized black if at all possible, Jody's former Alumin8or has all black NPT to AN fittings as well as hose ends & even braided black hose.

ah well, thanks for the advice fellas :D

How about getting all the fittings you need and have them re-anodized the color of your choice? In the overall cost of the fittings, it won't be that much to do.

An Aeroquip and Earl's catalog are a great help to understand how all of this AN stuff works. Personally, I'll stick with Aeroquip due to the ease of assembly and the better hose clamping design.

Summit catalog shows some from Earls in black, and polished from both. Also, go directly to the manufacturers site, there'll be more stuff than summit has room for, but if you can give them a part #, summit will get them for you.

An idea.....
Before you order make a diagram of how you want it to look. Be sure to figure in all the bends, elbows and fittings. This is so you can get all the stuff in one order. When I did my new fuel line system I had to make 4 different orders to finally get it right and the shipping charges added up. Summit was nice and refunded me the shipping on one of the orders because I explained to them I had made a mistake and not ordered enough parts.

good idea on the diagram supv, definately gonna heed that advice,

carl, gonna check it out smile.gif thanks bud.

and Jim, I know Earls makes it all in black, its the anotuff series, BUT they dont make NPT to AN adapters in black anodized (never considered getting my stuff custom anodized, but time and $ is of the essence) in fact, from what I can tell absaloutely NO ONE makes NPT to AN adapters in the size that I need, (aeromotive makes a few, but only with o-rings for fuel sealing)

thanks again guys, always helpin out a newbie smile.gif

I just use the blue adapters with Aeroquip red and blue fittings.

I've never seen any other color than blue for the adapters.

Those pics in my sig are old, this is what I use now:

http://hometown.aol.com/zz430droptop67rs/images/becool%2085%20009.jpg

I know this thread is old (I'm "studying" :)), but Don, that's a beautiful set-up :thumbsup:

Earls has ano-tuff adapters (black). I would go to Earls and download their catalogs and you can get a good feel for how everything goes together. I focus on the "hose and hose end", "adapters" and "accessories" sections. Use Summit, or another on-line retailer to check prices. Do plan out how you want to route things and draw up diagrams. The pieces can get a little pricey....so you don't want to order what you end up not using.

I'm adding some to my LS1 right now and also playing with fabricating some hard lines.

Mark M.