Finally a windless window of opportunity to do the tranny pan swap!
My Reasons to do this:
1. Brand new foreign made in china crapola pan leaks.
2. More capacity than a standard deep 4x4 pan.
3. Drain Plug.
4. Temp Sending Unit Provision on passenger side of pan (pictured).
5. Looks good and heavy & well built.
6. 100% American Made.
Likes:
1. Came with everything but fluid.
2. Instructions were suffucient.
3. No Leaks, no Silicone.
Comments:
1. While the kit came with hex wrenches needed to do install; using a standard 3/8" drive 1/4" hex bit socket, 6-12" extensions & rachet for all but the most rearward shcs was/is a way easier way to go imho. Also, the most rearward shcs on the pan required a short/stubby 3/8" drive 1/4" hex bit socket, 6" extension and a universal because I could not get a straight shot on it otherwise
2. Tools I used are pictured.
3. Everything supplied is also pictured.
4. Old Pan installed & New Pan Installed are also pictured.
5. I have a long drop crossmember; and still had room; IF you have a short drop crossmember I don't think this pan will fit. The short drop crossmembers also don't look like you can even get a standard deep pan in there, just the shallow pan. IDK if any Blazer/Jimmy 4x4 that came with a turbo 400 ever came with a short drop crossmember, shallow pan or not. See what you have before you start; scrounge up the long drop crossmember if you don't have one.
6. My stubby 1/4" hex bit socket is from snap-on the rest of my tools used were old made in USA Craftsman before they started making them in China.
7. I used a 3/8" drive 1/2" flex socket and 6" extension and rachet to get my old pan off; because I have the long drop crossmember I had no trouble getting to all the pan bolts, nothing was in the way.
8. My vehicle is a 82 Chevy K5 Blazer with a SBC & Turbo 400. I know my truck came with 700-R4 which was gone when I got it. Some p/o put the thm400 in it.
Gripes:
1. The supplied filter was "Made In China" :-(
2. I'm not sure the socket head cap screws with no supplied lockwashers are a good idea; only time will tell if they work loose or not. IMHO Lockwashers, and Flangebolts or serated flangebolts or something simular is probably better; trying to brake clean and locktite tranny or oil pan bolts and holes in the vehicle sucks without a lift. IF the SHCS work lose I'll probably add lockwashers and see how that works out.
3. Jury is also still out on the pan gasket; it's some kind of fibre; I'm a fan of the FelPro gaskets.
4. This last one is a GM Gripe that the internet has yet to answer as far as I can tell... WTF does the turbo 400 filter have to flop around? Maybe one of our tranny guru's can give a better answer than "it's supposed to be that way"
