Chevy & GMC Vans

I was going to get a trans gasket and filter to do a change and the first question I was asked was do I have a deep pan or not. I would guess not, but how do I tell?

Also, someone mentioned a drain plug kit that can be retrofitted into the pan if I understood correctly. If I did, where would one get such a thing, and how would one install it?

That is easy...the shallow pan is not as deep as the deep pan!

Rileysowner wrote:I was going to get a trans gasket and filter to do a change and the first question I was asked was do I have a deep pan or not. I would guess not, but how do I tell?

Also, someone mentioned a drain plug kit that can be retrofitted into the pan if I understood correctly. If I did, where would one get such a thing, and how would one install it?

get a bung and a drain plug with the same thread and drill a hole and weld it in.

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:That is easy...the shallow pan is not as deep as the deep pan!

So I need to go out a purchase on with a deep or shallow pan so I can compare Not much help.

The standard pan is about 2" deep. The deep pan is about 3" deep. I can't imagine an Astro having a deep pan. They're usually found on heavy duty trucks.

tbhager94 wrote:

Rileysowner wrote:I was going to get a trans gasket and filter to do a change and the first question I was asked was do I have a deep pan or not. I would guess not, but how do I tell?

Also, someone mentioned a drain plug kit that can be retrofitted into the pan if I understood correctly. If I did, where would one get such a thing, and how would one install it?

get a bung and a drain plug with the same thread and drill a hole and weld it in.

Since I have never done something like that 1) Where would I get the parts? 2) How would they be installed?

Smiliesafari wrote:The standard pan is about 2" deep. The deep pan is about 3" deep. I can't imagine an Astro having a deep pan. They're usually found on heavy duty trucks.

Thanks, gotta measure.

The shallow pan is 2.25" deep. The deep pans are 3" deep. The 2003 AWD I bought had a deep pan stock. Our 2005 Trailblazer as well as the 1999 Silverado I owned both had deep pans as well.

Good info, Dean. I'd like to have one on the "Smilievan".

Heres a reg pan...

Here you can just see the deeper extension on the deep GM pans.

Jim, on the drain plug:
You can get retrofit plugs that don't require welding, drill a hole in the pan, the bung goes in like a bulkhead fitting. The only thing to be careful of is the placement. Even after measuring the location on the pan for clearance I managed to screw it up and wound up tossing the pan. So, at that point I just bought a replacement pan with a drain plug in it already. Parts sites that carry trans rebuild parts will have the retrofit bung and plug, or retrofit pans with drains.

I still have not gotten to this as work has been busy, and it has been raining a lot.

If my Haynes manual can be believed the torque on the trans pan bolts is in inch/Lbs. I guess I need to get another torque wrench.

http://www.bmracing.com/PRODUCTS/Transm ... n-Plug-Kit

i used one of these on the 727 of my first car...it was very easy to install and didn't leak...

Thanks. I have to see how they ship. It they uses USPS I will likely order from them, but if a courier probably not as being hit with a $20 customs brokerage fee for a $8 part seems silly.