I laid it flat on some cardboard. I didn't go anywhere near the internals of the pan.
I used RTV to seal it up.

 

I'm resurrecting this thread as I'm planning to change the filter and fluid in my truck's transmission as soon as I get my car out of the garage.

I'm searching for filter kits and see the Wix kit comes with two filters and a gasket. I take it I need two filters? Also, how do I know if I need the shallow pan kit or the deep pan kit?

I'm also curious why some of you opt not to use the pan gasket? I figure while I have the pan dropped I'll take the time to install a drain plug or switch to a pan with cooling fins and a drain plug.