Trans Pan removal

[blondie70]

Howdy. New guy here. 2012 Tahoe with 6 speed. I am changing the trans filter and having one heck of a problem removing the pan. It don't wanna come out !
Anyone have any tips for me to get the pan off ?
Thanks a million
Pete

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

Are you saying can't get it unbolted or is unbolted and will not clear to come out?

 

[blondie70]

Howdy. Unbolted easily. Not a lot of room with the exhaust right under it. Don't want to slide out. Jamming on somethhing in the trans.....by the way...I am a viet vet also....groundpounder '68 to '69.
Thanks, Pete

 

[NickTransmissions]

Howdy. Unbolted easily. Not a lot of room with the exhaust right under it. Don't want to slide out. Jamming on somethhing in the trans.....by the way...I am a viet vet also....groundpounder '68 to '69.
Thanks, Pete

Hi Pete,

Is the pan "stuck" to the case?

If so, Take a smooth, flat blade screwdriver and position it on the pan side of the gasket at a bolt hole location then tap until you can separate the pan from the transmission. Dont worry if you dent the pan sealing surface there as it willl flatten out when you put the bolt back in and torque it down.

 

[blondie70]

Nope....loose...just won't come out. No room between the trans and the exhaust pipe. I can move it all around, and it almost comes out..but something in the trans is protruding down enough to stop it from sliding out. !!!
thank you

 

[OR VietVet]

Unbolt the transmission mount and lift the tail of transmission for clearance. Not real fast, very slowly. Floor jack and wood.

 

[donjetman]

I remove the exhaust Y-pipe to remove the pan on mine.
Sometimes the exhaust manifold bolts can be a nightmare (rust/corrosion) to get off.

 

[NickTransmissions]

Nope....loose...just won't come out. No room between the trans and the exhaust pipe. I can move it all around, and it almost comes out..but something in the trans is protruding down enough to stop it from sliding out. !!!
thank you

I have to drop the exhaust on mine to get the pan out of the way so i think its pretty standard expectation that it has to come off...use Kroil on all fasteners the night before if it hasnt been off in ages and you live in a high humidity/moisture area.

 

[blondie70]

Man, that sounds like a lot of work on my back !
It almost comes out. I am gonna fiddle with it tomorrow. I like the idea of lifting the back of the trans better than messing with that PIA exhaust !!
I will give a report here tomorrow if I ain't too down in the back to type ..ha ha ha ha
Thank you gents for the timely advice
Pete

 

[B-train]

The other option is a big bar. Use it to slightly pry down the wye section of the pipe - use cross member as leverage point. With it flexed down slightly, the pan will slip out. Seems stupid, but have done it myself numerous times on my vehicles over the years. All my friends at the dealerships do the same thing. It may be a 2 person job on the floor. And when I say pry bar, I mean something substantial that can give you some reasonable leverage.

 

[tom3]

Have you already pulled the filter out of the trans? Just pull it straight down and then you can turn it and get it out of the way. Then turn the pan just the right way and maybe it comes out.

 

[B-train]

Be aware that when you slide the pan out, that you don't damage a shift solenoid. A friend owns a trans shop and warned me of that years ago.

 

[89Suburban]

I thought @iamdub had a trick for this very situation for "persuading" the Y-pipe to cooperate.

 

[OR VietVet]

I saw a video at you tube about using a 2x4 and a ratchet strap to pull/flex the exhaust down just enough for clearance. You have to remember that getting the pan down is only half the battle. You have to get the pan and gasket back up in that hole.

 

[iamdub]

I thought @iamdub had a trick for this very situation for "persuading" the Y-pipe to cooperate.

This Y-pipe?

Persuaded to cooperate:

I recall it being tight, but not very difficult. But, mine is a 4L60E so the space constraints are probably different than the OP's 6L80E. I also have a lift so I can easily use prybars and/or lengths of 2x4, which is what I might have done. I just didn't put much thought into it and didn't bother to memorize whatever it was I did. Actually, I probably did my trans stuff after I cut the pipe out.

 

[OR VietVet]

That linkage bracket is a PITA but once you get the torx broke loose, it goes pretty smooth. Chase those torx threads and holes and lube when reinstall.

 

[blondie70]

I got 'er done. I used the jack method to raise the rear of the trans, as was outlined here. Got it finished today. No leaks yet...ha ha. Thanks for all the good suggestions for this job. 2 or 3 or7 heads are sure better than one ! thank you

 

[Caveman1975]

I just did this job on my 2014. Had the same problem. I used a 3 or 4 ft piece of 2x4 steel that I had laying around.
Wedge it above the exhaust. Push it up against the chassis rail. Use a floor Jack on the end. It becomes a lever, and the chassis rail is the fulcrum.
Pushes the exhaust down just enough to slide the pan off, without taking the exhaust apart.

 

[TXbarney]

Seem logical that raising the transmission is simpler and less involved than taking frozen bolts loose on the exhaust.
However if you are more skilled with a sawsall all than wrenches I guess you would start cutting.
* consider this...... note that the cross over goes under the trans pan for about 10-12 inches. how much heat
do you think that radiates into the transmission? While you are under the vehicle, make a heat shield to reduce the
heat from the exhaust raising the transmission fluid temp. .... really cheap insurance for the transmission.