Trans Pan removal

[blondie70]

Howdy. New guy here. 2012 Tahoe with 6 speed. I am changing the trans filter and having one heck of a problem removing the pan. It don't wanna come out !
Anyone have any tips for me to get the pan off ?
Thanks a million
Pete

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

Are you saying can't get it unbolted or is unbolted and will not clear to come out?

 

[blondie70]

Howdy. Unbolted easily. Not a lot of room with the exhaust right under it. Don't want to slide out. Jamming on somethhing in the trans.....by the way...I am a viet vet also....groundpounder '68 to '69.
Thanks, Pete

 

[NickTransmissions]

Howdy. Unbolted easily. Not a lot of room with the exhaust right under it. Don't want to slide out. Jamming on somethhing in the trans.....by the way...I am a viet vet also....groundpounder '68 to '69.
Thanks, Pete

Hi Pete,

Is the pan "stuck" to the case?

If so, Take a smooth, flat blade screwdriver and position it on the pan side of the gasket at a bolt hole location then tap until you can separate the pan from the transmission. Dont worry if you dent the pan sealing surface there as it willl flatten out when you put the bolt back in and torque it down.

 

[blondie70]

Nope....loose...just won't come out. No room between the trans and the exhaust pipe. I can move it all around, and it almost comes out..but something in the trans is protruding down enough to stop it from sliding out. !!!
thank you

 

[OR VietVet]

Unbolt the transmission mount and lift the tail of transmission for clearance. Not real fast, very slowly. Floor jack and wood.

 

[donjetman]

I remove the exhaust Y-pipe to remove the pan on mine.
Sometimes the exhaust manifold bolts can be a nightmare (rust/corrosion) to get off.

 

[NickTransmissions]

Nope....loose...just won't come out. No room between the trans and the exhaust pipe. I can move it all around, and it almost comes out..but something in the trans is protruding down enough to stop it from sliding out. !!!
thank you

I have to drop the exhaust on mine to get the pan out of the way so i think its pretty standard expectation that it has to come off...use Kroil on all fasteners the night before if it hasnt been off in ages and you live in a high humidity/moisture area.

 

[blondie70]

Man, that sounds like a lot of work on my back !
It almost comes out. I am gonna fiddle with it tomorrow. I like the idea of lifting the back of the trans better than messing with that PIA exhaust !!
I will give a report here tomorrow if I ain't too down in the back to type ..ha ha ha ha
Thank you gents for the timely advice
Pete

 

[B-train]

The other option is a big bar. Use it to slightly pry down the wye section of the pipe - use cross member as leverage point. With it flexed down slightly, the pan will slip out. Seems stupid, but have done it myself numerous times on my vehicles over the years. All my friends at the dealerships do the same thing. It may be a 2 person job on the floor. And when I say pry bar, I mean something substantial that can give you some reasonable leverage.