newb question.. shallow or deep pan?

**pk222** · 03-31-2010, 03:05 PM

hey guys, I need to change my atf and the place where I went to buy the atf and filter didn't know if I needed a deep or shallow filter..
Does anyone know?
also they told me to run dex/merc, Is that right?
Sorry for the dumb question but I cant find any specs on it other than run dex 3 so I'm not sure if what I got is ok.
thanks in advance

**JaycenK** · 03-31-2010, 04:03 PM

There are deep pans and short pans, sorts are like 2 or 3 inches from bottom to the lip. and deep pans are 4 to 6 inches. Dex/Merc mix is fine. Just use something good and not some off the wall brand.

**pk222** · 03-31-2010, 09:36 PM

ok good Thank you. I'm trying to wait to do this until I get my shift kit but I'm starting to think I should scratch that idea and just have it done through a frost tune when I get my headers and ory. Which would be better?
I got castrol

**JaycenK** · 04-01-2010, 10:33 PM

Since your an LS1 I would just talk to frost about it. There are some issues that are known to happen if you tune out the PWM and boost line pressure. You can't replace a good shift kit but at the same time alot of guys like just boosting the line pressure through the PCM because it is not messy at all lol. And you don't have to F around with a 500 dollar valve body.

**pk222** · 04-02-2010, 08:07 AM

What are the issues that are known to happen?
I wanted the transgo shift kit but I want to get that trans fluid changed as soon as possible and don't want to wait for shipping.

**JaycenK** · 04-02-2010, 07:51 PM

Here this was a post about the problem and then the answer. Read through. Ask frost he should be well aware of it. Talk it over with him. I don't know ls1 tuning. He's the man for that. http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132130

**c5z28** · 04-02-2010, 08:11 PM

If you are doing your own tranny fluid change get some kitty litter because it is going to be messy. I installed a drain plug for next time. And the shallow filter unless you plan on a deeper pan.

**pk222** · 04-03-2010, 12:32 AM

before I get a tune I'll talk to frost about that. I don't want to fry my transmission.Maybe I'll just go with the transgo shift kit for now because I don't want to do a tune twice anyway when I get headers down the road.

Thanks for the heads up, and I got the shallow pan filter because I figured the deeper ones were aftermarket ones with the heat fins or whatever you want to call it.

**Cutlass** · 04-03-2010, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by pk222

I got the shallow pan filter because I figured the deeper ones were aftermarket ones with the heat fins or whatever you want to call it.

not necessarily. GM used both shallow and deep pans. I''m not sure what on a f-body but some of the 4x4 trucks use a deep pan from the factory

**JaycenK** · 04-03-2010, 05:48 PM

Headers on an ls1 don't really need a tune because the exhaust flowed fairly well from the factory. You could get the tune now and just do the headers down the road. Talk to frost about that too.
Like cutlass said stock pans were both deap and shallow. Messure the pan. Some F-bodies came with deep pans from what I have read.

**sjsingle1** · 04-03-2010, 09:04 PM

never seen a fbod come with a deep pan..........the deep pan is about 3 " deeper??? thats alot of less clearance

**pk222** · 04-04-2010, 08:53 AM

As far as the headers, I would have to get the tune to delete the rear o2's and turn off the cel wouldn't I?
A 3 in deeper pan would almost be touching the ground don't you think?

**Cutlass** · 04-04-2010, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by pk222

As far as the headers, I would have to get the tune to delete the rear o2's and turn off the cel wouldn't I?

yes and there is some tuning involved to get the most bang out of LTs vs stock manifolds. LTs on a stock tune tend to make the car run rich.

**pk222** · 04-05-2010, 08:06 AM

that would make sense

Is the transmission pan gasket reusable

**c5z28** · 04-05-2010, 05:35 PM

When you get a filter it comes w/ a gasket, When I did my change the old gasket stuck to the pan so I just reused it w/ no leak issues. Also there is a o-ring that I didn't use because it didn't come out with the old filter and nicking the tranny to get it out wasn't worth trying to force it out.