Mopar catalog - there is a Deep Cast Aluminum Oil Pan upgrade, adds 2 quarts and also has a drain plug and extra hole for a temperature guage! Just what I need for an upgrade! [Better than the Dorman Pan!]
http://www.mopar.com/assets/pdf/perf...ansmission.pdf

But the description doesn’t exactly say if it fits on a 4th gen minivan, like this:
http://www.moparsupercenter.com/cast...p50077xxx.html

The Mopar Transmission Temp Gauges are more expensive and not as good as a digital one:
http://www.mopar.com/assets/pdf/perf...nce_Gauges.pdf
http://www.moparsupercenter.com/guag...7060048-9.html
http://www.moparsupercenter.com/guag...lp5155885.html

They look like they’re made by Autometer and the best one is cheapest on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/250311411949...84.m1423.l2649

Anyone have experience with this Transmission Oil Pan and Transmission Temperature Gauges? Will the Autometer Gauge sender plug into the Mopar Cast AL Pan?

 

Lowering the bottom of the transmission pan may make it vulnerable to damage from road debris - cast aluminum pans sound a little scary to me as they might shatter instead of dent when struck. I do also wonder a bit about lowering the oil pick up, whether that moves where the filter attaches or how exactly that is done...

The factory setup does hold quite a lot of fluid already, I had always thought the biggest shortcoming was insufficient cooling, and that the common fix for that is to add extra coolers.

If you are just looking to add a temperature gauge for the transmission I am sure the sending unit could be fit to the OEM pan or the dorman pan for significantly less money.

 

sub'd to see where this goes, interested.

 

My 2005 3.8L SXT has the tow package but everything extra for towing helps. The ideal RV for me would weigh 3205 lbs max loaded so that's some heavy duty towing.

Best lightweight 2 person RV: http://www.forestriverinc.com/Travel...VType=trailers

The Dorman and oem pans don't have a hole for the Transmission Temperature gauge sender unit, and that's a big hassle to machine in on a pan.

I looked under my SXT and there is a crossbar 1.75 " lower than the tranny pan.

Seems this would be good to get too: http://www.moparsupercenter.com/tran...5249321ab.html
http://www.moparsupercenter.com/tran...ep4452785.html

 

Your van has the 41TE transmission, the cast pans shown in your links are for the A-518, A-727 & A-500 transmissions.

George

 

I guess my other option is to keep the oem pan and drill it for this:
Then that Autometer Transmission Digital Gauge sender might plug in.