I am going to replace the transmission pan on my 98 Ram 4X4 with 67,000 mi. I would like an extra-capacity pan and I've been looking at all the usual suspects. All appear so be fairly similar in design and price. Does anybody have any recommendations and/or advice on choosing the best one? Thanks . . .

 

I have the derale pan with tubulator cooling tubes. It really does work well for cooling my tranny fluid (I have a tranny temp sensor).

Also, the pan has a drain plug and built in bung for a tranny temp sensor sender.

Plus it is cheaper than most pans.

DRAWBACK:
It is not as STOUT as the thick cast aluminum pans, but it is thicker than stock by a hair. So if you overtighten the bolts you can run the risk of bending the pan and that is where you get leaks. However, if you keep the STOCK tranny gasket, that will help you because the stock gasket is a piece of hard plastic and it makes it a bit more forgiving when tightening the bolts.

But you won't find another fan for 130 bucks:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DER-14210/

 

I run the mag hytec 727-DD pan.

Extra capacity, magnetic drain plug, comes with filter relocator to sink the filter deeper in the fluid.

extremely heavy duty. Expensive.

 

I have a cast PML aluminum pan that has been cracked and repaired. I would not reccomend aluminum for off roading because you may end up trying to piece shrapnel together. You could hammer a steel pan out and JB weld any cracks.

 

Mag hytec have some SWEET trans pans and diff covers.

 

And the gal by the mustang has a nice, erm... Pan.... as well.

 

Thanks for all the feedback so far. Still haven't decided which pan to go with but thinking about the procedure brings up another question. Is there anything else I should do matter-of-factly while I have the pan off and the transmission drained? My plan as of now is to pull the old pan, drain tranny (no flush), install new pan and refill w/new tranny fluid. Everything right now is stock, and to the best of my knowledge, original (although the previous owner did add a tranny cooler). Truck has a little over 67K miles. Tranny appears to be functioning fine right now. Always engages, shifts fine, no slippage, etc. . . Should I take the "if it ain't broke" approach or the "as long as you're there" approach?

 

I think, in your case, the most 'extra' I would do would be a band adjustment, and you aren't even really due for that......