95firebird3.4

2 questions
1 how hard is it to change the oil pan and tranny pan gaskets?
2 how hard is it to change the tranny fluid

This work will be done on a 95 firebird 3.4

thanks for all the help

92zcamaroperson

dropping the trans pan isnt hard at all. just messy.Drop the pan, let all the fluid drain out, change the filter, put it all back together and dont forget to put the new fluid in. Also drive it easy for the first 250-500 miles.

__________________
92 z28 camaro 5.7 TPI
current - slp intake runners and base-BBK 52mm throttle body-MSD 8.5mm wires, blaster coil, and 6AL Box-edelbrock headers-160 degree stat.-hotchkis strut tower brace

waiting in the garage - LQ4, milled heads 317 casting (10.5 to 1), hardened pushrods, ported LS6 oil pump, manley dual spings with titanium retainers, MTI X1 cam, hawks longtube headers

MT-2500

On the transmission drain get a big or bigger drain pan.
I use the cut off end of a 55 gallon drum and sometimes it is not big enough.
If the transmission pan has the good molded rubber gasket just reuse it.
If not find one or at least a good gasket.
The gaskets with the parts places kits are crap.
A good transmission shop or dealer has the good ones.

__________________
Remember proper testing gives us the answer to many problems.
MT

hotrod_chevyz

If its an automatic, the pan holds like 3-5 quarts of fluid, the torque converter holds even more than that, and the old fluid will remain in the converter until its flushed out. I would have it flushed comletely out by a professional or just leave it alone.

Before you try to attempt removal of the oil pan, if its a small leak your worried about try to check and see if any of the bolts have worked their way loose. If thats all it is you will save yourself a major pain in the hind quarters.

for both gaskets: To make sure all the bolt holes are lined up, use a little weatherstrip adhesive on the pan between the bolt holes (a drop not a bunch), and put all the bolts through the top of the pan (pan bolt holes facing up gasket in place and the bolts going through the top of the pan facing down). Let it dry until the gasket seems to be in place, this will make it tons easier to put the pan back on and makes sure the holes are aligned perfect. Dont use any silicone or anything like that on them. a single sliver of the stuff inside the transmission can cause failure.

__________________

wrightz28

For catch pans I use disposable roasting pans, a small investment that does quite well for me. Sometimes you can bag em at your local dollar store. You simply loosen one side of the bolt pattern at a time and then eventually let the pan come down on one side to drian the bulk of it.

As far as getting the pan back in place, check around with some of your friends that have been working on cars for a while. I have a set of of thread in pins I got with a quality gasket kit years ago and held on to them, they are reusable and the most aswsome no fuss no muss things around. You thread em into the corners of the bolt pattern, and then 'pop' the pan up onto them and they hold the pan in for support.