Deep Transmission Pan?

[NCBadBird1979]

Just curious if any of you guys are running a deep transmission pan on your Trans Ams and if you have ground clearance issues. My 79 is about an inch lower than stock height and has long tube headers. The cost of a 200-4R aluminum deep pan vs stock height replacement is about $10 more.

[highway star]

Installed one yrs ago on my '78 with a th350 trans. Bottomed out & cracked.
It was a B&M aluminum, finned and with a drain plug. Nice part tho. PS, stock ride height.

[NCBadBird1979]

Installed one yrs ago on my '78 with a th350 trans. Bottomed out & cracked.
It was a B&M aluminum, finned and with a drain plug. Nice part tho. PS, stock ride height.

Definitely don't want that to happen. I'll stick with the stock height. 

[olds403]

CK performance makes a spacer for the stock pan.  ive tried all the deep pans.   My car is lowered on 17’s no go

[Wallington]

Mike, is that what you use now, stock GM pan with spacer, or a 'stock' low profile aftermarket something? I see that Hugh and PML, possible others, offer a 'low-profile' version that is still deeper than stock, even with wall thickness. Still allows for 700 pickup/filter?

[NCBadBird1979]

I currently have the CK performance spacer on the factory profile pan that I'm replacing since I have 700R4 filter installed. I ended buying the PML stock style low profile aluminum pan a few days ago. I saw they said its approx .5in lower than the stock pan so I'm curious if I'll need the spacer anymore. I guess I'll find out tomorrow when I put it on.

[NCBadBird1979]

I just got done installing the new PML aluminum "stock" low profile pan and you do have to still use the spacer from CK Performance with the 700R4 filter. That extra .5in difference must be material thickness and the fins on the bottom.

You have to trim down the shifter cable bracket that bolts up to the pan as well due to the thickness of the aluminum not allowing the bolt holes to line up 100%.

[Wallington]

Was there a reason you had to replace the stock pan and CK spacer, or just wanted an alloy piece?

[NCBadBird1979]

I replaced the stock pan because it had quite a few dents and dings in it that couldn't be flattened out and scuffs from whatever vehicle it came out of previously. The metal spacer from CK was installed when I had the transmission built with billet internals last year to swap out for the TH400 that was in the car. I ended up reusing it with the aluminum pan due to having the 700R4 filter installed.

Since they don't make reproduction 200-4R steel pans I opted to buy an aluminum pan versus searching for a used pan. The aluminum pan is a little pricey but it is very well made and came with all of the hardware needed.

[formula jg]

My '79 has a 700R4, is dropped front 2" and rear almost 3" and no bottoming issues with the Derale Cooling Pan.

https://derale.com/product-footer/transmission-pans/cooling-pans/14204-detail

[Wallington]

Not street driven? Or scrapes on headers instead?!

[formula jg]

Yes it is street driven, minor header and muffler scrapes.

[Wallington]

Seems to be one or the other. Unfortunately, I don't have headers or low exhaust to protect it. Maybe glue the stock steel one under it as a bash plate...!

Annoyingly I sold my new medium PML pan, after being told they were rubbish by the trans builder. Naturally, he sold his own brands and didn't advise deep pans were not suitable for many situations either. They aren't terribly cheap if you want to try a different depth or brand. Or ship them around the world.