Hi All

I'm going to be replacing my oil pan and transmission pan on my 2000 3.8. The trans pan is going to get a drain plug. Anyway, I'm going to a auto wreckers to get these 2 items. Reason being, I want to be able to clean them up, install the drain plug and powder coat both of them while my wife continues to drive the van. (gotta love these rolling repairs!). So, my question is in regard to how difficult is it to get both of these 2 pans off? Any special tools, tips, problems I may encounter...

I'll be bringing an assortment of tools but as I'll be in this auto bone yard I'd like to know if I'll run into anything.

As an aside, I've crawled under my van and don't see anything earth shaking or potentially problem causing but I thought I should ask. Adding the trans drain plug is a no brainer. The reason for the oil pan is simple. I've started doing powder coating of auto parts "on the side" (I currently do it for medical products I manufacture) and thought it just makes sense to do some parts for potential customers inspection that'll fit 1 of my vehicles.

Any suggestion or ideas welcomed!

Piper

The trans pan is easy to get off (had it off before to change filter). I've haven't looked at the oil pan close enough but I think it will come off without having to remove anything else.

On my '96 3.8L, you need to remove the "Y" pipe before you can remove the oil pan.
The "Y" pipe is both catalytic converters and pipes from the exhaust manifolds back to just in front of the flex pipe....in front of the muffler......all 1 assembly.

For the tranny pan.....installing the drain plug is a good idea, however, you want to be certain that you install the drain plug in such a position that it will not interfere with any internals of the transmission.
There are a number of locations on the pan that are very close to internal parts of the transmission.

I'll have a good look when I'm in the bone yard at the oil pan. I may just scoop it anyway and not replace it on my van if it involves removing exhaust components. No point in causing more work than needed.

As for the trans pan, I plan on adding the drain at the front on the side so that the plug isn't lower than the pan. I don't need to crack that plug off on something and drool tranny fluid down the road.

Piper