10L80 Transmission, best way to lower exhaust for PPE pan install?

[ClassFAirspace]

I recently got the PPE extended capacity transmission pan for my 2018 Escalade ESV. It looked simple enough to install and I've done plenty of transmission oil and filter changes before, so figured I could slightly rotate and slide the pan in at just the correct angle to fit it over the exhaust.

Unfortunately this is not the case at all and the pan is about 3/4 inch thicker than the stock transmission pan at the thinner section towards the rear of the vehicle. I've got a a 60" pry bar and pried as best as I could, but even though it looks like I've moved the exhaust down an inch it still refuses to install and I'm holding off on prying it any further for fear of breaking something.

I know a few folks have installed the PPE pan in the past, so what did you guys do to lower the exhaust? A few options I have seen online mentioned disconnecting the exhaust at both ends by the front wheels to allow it to fall down, but that would require buying all new gaskets and seems like a pain. There is also someone on YouTube that used a bottle jack and another that use a ratchet strap at 2x4 to pull the exhaust lower. There's also folks mentioning just prying the crap out of it.

I am leaning towards disconnecting the exhaust, but don't want to do it if there's another way that safely works. How far can I realistically pry this thing down before I break something? The distance that folks are saying to pry and move the exhaust (2-3 inches) seems like it would cause a bolt or fail.

 

[jaxscuby]

well i had to drop the y-pipe for torque convertor swap.
the driver side has a donut gasket that fits into the exhaust manifold.
the passenger side has a metal crush ring gasket.

have dropped y-pipe twice not replaced any gaskets.

The youtube videos show ratchet strap and piece to 2x4 that goes under the crossmember.
tighten ractchet strap to pull down the back portion of the y-pipe. but that was for the factory transmission pan.

much safer that "prying" and you have your hands free..to rotate the factory transmission pan.

I too have been "window shopping" for larger transmission pan and figured that I might have to drop the y-pipe.

did it come with any instructions?..the PPE Pan..

 

[ClassFAirspace]

well i had to drop the y-pipe for torque convertor swap.
the driver side has a donut gasket that fits into the exhaust manifold.
the passenger side has a metal crush ring gasket.

have dropped y-pipe twice not replaced any gaskets.

The youtube videos show ratchet strap and piece to 2x4 that goes under the crossmember.
tighten ractchet strap to pull down the back portion of the y-pipe. but that was for the factory transmission pan.

much safer that "prying" and you have your hands free..to rotate the factory transmission pan.

I too have been "window shopping" for larger transmission pan and figured that I might have to drop the y-pipe.

did it come with any instructions?..the PPE Pan..

Thank you for the reply and my apologies about this late of a reply from my end. Somehow I missed the notification about this.

For dropping the Y-Pipe, did you have to do anything on the rear half like disconnect it from the hangars or was disconnecting from the front enough clearance? That's good to know about re-using the gaskets. I too tried prying with my 5 foot pry bar and stopped when I felt like I was going to break something (or myself).

Yes, the PPE pan comes with instructions and a better set of pan bolts. Here is an attached scan of the manual as a thank you for your reply.

 

[jaxscuby]

the rear crossmember behind the tranny & cross pipe make things easier.

I know when I replace the tranny pan (the one with a drain bolt) I will
have the enjoyment of doing the Y-Pipe drop again..

yes, you can do it with truck on ramps, but easier on a lift.

 

[jaxscuby]

Thank you for the reply and my apologies about this late of a reply from my end. Somehow I missed the notification about this.

For dropping the Y-Pipe, did you have to do anything on the rear half like disconnect it from the hangars or was disconnecting from the front enough clearance? That's good to know about re-using the gaskets. I too tried prying with my 5 foot pry bar and stopped when I felt like I was going to break something (or myself).

Yes, the PPE pan comes with instructions and a better set of pan bolts. Here is an attached scan of the manual as a thank you for your reply.

I just noticed you have 10L80 tranny.

so my comments were from my 6l80.

the rear of the y-pipe had a large clamp to cat-back section.

no hangers, just fun with dropping the y-pipe.

removing the O2 sensors from y-pipe was a "piece of mind"

thing so you don't damage them.

 

[k_arnold72]

One method that i just learned about on reddit, you can also loosen the two transmission cross member bolts and lift at the rear of the transmission a couple inches for clearance

 

[Kobot]

One method that i just learned about on reddit, you can also loosen the two transmission cross member bolts and lift at the rear of the transmission a couple inches for clearance

I thought of doing this but I don’t think it would work. The exhaust will move in unison with the transmission. I checked by watching a video where a guy replaced the transmission mount. I noticed the exhaust moved right along with it.

I plan to tackle the transmission pan swap later this week. I wish I could have done it today while doing the driver side engine mount but that ending up taking much longer than I expected.

 

[k_arnold72]

It worked for me. Your results may vary.

 

[TheBigCheezeBall]

One method that i just learned about on reddit, you can also loosen the two transmission cross member bolts and lift at the rear of the transmission a couple inches for clearance

I had to do this in combination with the ratchet strap to replace my stock pan. I can confirm that the strap itself wasn’t enough and that this did help me. I didn’t use a PPE, just installed something with a drain plug, but was still more difficult than it seemed for some. I’m not sure if the difference lies in the exhaust type, 2WD vs 4WD or something else.

 

[Kobot]

It worked for me. Your results may vary.

Nice. I will make that Plan A since it’s easier than dropping the Y-pipe.