New 700r4 pan, thoughts?

[solace22]

I am not a big fan of my 700R4, it shifts acceptably and doesnt give me many problems though. Id like to upgrade the pan on it, add a temp sensor and help it live a good life.
Ive been looking at a few pans online that meet these requirements and found this one. But that drain plug is concerning to me. I dont do alot of offroading but I cant rule out that I wont in the future.
Thoughts?

 

[Justin V]

I haven't purchased any Derale pans, but I have purchased some of their electronics and am very satisfied. That is the best I have for you. As for the drain plug, you have a driveshaft, a diff, and a trans crossmember that should all be hanging lower than the pan. You'd likely be just fine.

 

[diesel4me]

I have a deep aluminum B&M pan for the TH400 in my '82,but its still lying in the tool box in the bed several years later--I started to think twice about putting an aluminum pan on it when I realized how much easier one is to crack--my truck sees some decent plowing "episodes" and cracking it on something would be be out of the question--I'd have to buy a filter extension,gasket,and still not have a drain plug..

More I thought about it,I think adding fluid capacity by putting a larger cooler would be a better "upgrade"than a deeper pan...you can add a drain plug to a steel oem pan pretty easy too..(magnetic one is a good idea )..

 

[solace22]

Some very valid thoughts I'll have to consider!

 

[Greg Ducato]

PML makes about the nicest, best sealing aluminum pan out there for the 700R4 and it is close enough to stock depth to not hurt ground clearance (1/2 inch deeper)
it has a high quality, side mounted magnetic drain plug and a cast boss on the opposite side for a temp sender. They can even drill and tap this for you (at additional cost). http://www.yourcovers.com/transpan_9297.php

 

[454Sub]

More fluid is never bad for a tranny, and that in itself helps it live longer. That being said, a big cooler and gauge will be more effective, but all 3 is never a bad thing.