drain plug for trans
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
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From: OR
drain plug for trans
Is there any issues in putting a drain plug in the transmission pan of these cars? I put one from summet racing in our Durango. I was mostly concerned about ground clearance. Durango=high, Corvette=low. Any concerns about knocking the thing off? I think it ends up sticking out 1/2" - 3/4" below the pan.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I got a stock sized pan with a drain plug in it at a swap meet so it's not an issue but I have no idea who made it. I couldn't find anything like it when looking for a new one. The add on drains are okay but they also stick up so far inside the pan that they leave a lot of fluid undrained too, as well as how far they hang down on the outside, which I also don't care for. You might consider having a drain welded in using a piece cut from a trans pan off of a Japanese car. Most of them have drains in them. I wish all cars did!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
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From: Lake Mary Florida
Draining the pan only gets about a third of the fluid out. Much of it is still in the torque converter and lines to the cooler. Its best to flush it at the connection of the radiator. If you pull the pan then replace the filter while your there. I don't see the value in adding plug there. Just my 2-cents.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
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Originally Posted by 93JetJocky
Draining the pan only gets about a third of the fluid out. Much of it is still in the torque converter and lines to the cooler. Its best to flush it at the connection of the radiator. If you pull the pan then replace the filter while your there. I don't see the value in adding plug there. Just my 2-cents.
I agree that when changing the trans fluid, just a plug doesnt cut it, you would have to drop the pan to get all the old fluid out. It's just that with a plug, you could get most of it out so it wouldn't slop everywhere when dropping the pan.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
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From: OR
Originally Posted by 93JetJocky
Draining the pan only gets about a third of the fluid out. Much of it is still in the torque converter and lines to the cooler. Its best to flush it at the connection of the radiator. If you pull the pan then replace the filter while your there. I don't see the value in adding plug there. Just my 2-cents.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
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From: Lake Mary Florida
Maybe true, however, unless its a taxi you really don't have to do this except every 100K miles. And that's where I support my dealer. For under $100. they do an excellent job and have the proper machine to flush it and cycle the fluid at the radiator connection. I get to stand there and watch.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
I found a drain plug (magnetic) and a matching nut at the local parts store. After dropping the pan, I noted that the rear face of the pan offered good internal clearance for the plug. A location for the plug was choosen locating the plug as low in the pan as possible. Then drilled a hole just a tad larger than the thread diameter. Fired up the torch and silver soldered the nut to the pan.
Draining with this plug does not remove all the fluid. It sure does make dropping the pan much easier.
-JRC-
Draining with this plug does not remove all the fluid. It sure does make dropping the pan much easier.
-JRC-
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
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From: OR
Ahhh, there it is. You don't see the point because you don't do it yourself anyway. That certainly makes sense. There isn't a shop around that I trust so I do most things myself. That way I know what's done and what's not. I can't see paying a shop $60 + per hour to goof up my car, or do nothing at all, which has happened to me more than once. I change my tranny fluid @ around 30k miles which is pretty standard.
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Le Mans Master
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From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC
I got a stock sized pan with a drain plug in it at a swap meet so it's not an issue but I have no idea who made it. I couldn't find anything like it when looking for a new one. The add on drains are okay but they also stick up so far inside the pan that they leave a lot of fluid undrained too, as well as how far they hang down on the outside, which I also don't care for. You might consider having a drain welded in using a piece cut from a trans pan off of a Japanese car. Most of them have drains in them. I wish all cars did!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 1
From: OR
Originally Posted by kenv
I wonder how much GM saved by not putting in drain plugs? like $.05?