Has anyone installed an aluminum pan? My metal one has a defect that has been held together by JB Weld for far too long. After all, nothing is more permanent than a temporary fix.... But I really should replace the pan. I could go with another metal one but I have been eyeing up these aluminum ones. Better heat dissipation, potential for more fluid capacity and maybe more durability than the super thin metal ones we usually convert to. But after looking around there seem to be three styles:

Style 1:




Style 2:




Style 3:





Style 1 is the first I had come across. It is in appearance the closest match the the metal pans we often convert to and will use the same filter. The fins are large which does make me worry a little about clearance at the crossover bar but since they are aluminum it would not take much to cut them down in an area if needed. But since there is that bracket with a shield that also goes over out pans then maybe not, although that bracket and shield may have to go. Not sure.... For some reason these seem rather rare and the prices are usually north of $300 for used, $900 new. But I will keep refining search results to see if I can find some random cheap used one maybe. I do not think this style is made aftermarket, OEM ZF only based on what I have found so far.

Style 2 is pretty much the same as the stock plastic pans. The filter is swappable as that filter place does unbolt as you can see. This would probably be an easy direct swap with no issues. The fins are MUCH smaller but I think the all aluminum pan might still disperse heat better than the plastic one or even the usually black stamped steel one. Price is usually around $100 USD for aftermarket.

Style 3 is very similar to number 2 but appears to be deeper. More fluid can help with cooling but like the first I do wonder if the bracket and shield would still fit. Again the filter is serviceable. The fins are also like 2 in that they are not very big. So basically this is just a deep version of 2 at the same price point even.

I think I would love to find a cheap style 1 to test out for fitment. And I think it would help with cooling the most given the large fins. And the filter and thus install would be a lot easier too. So has anyone here swapped to one of these?

 

I have never seen those before. Long fins would probably pose a challenge to install heat shield bracket back on and also needed t be modify at the back to fit correctly over the crossmember .
Second and third options look interesting, but would still require to lift the engine , tranny and T case off the mounts, for clearance, to push the filter goose neck up .
In my case , I have resorted to original plastic pan. I change the tranny oil every 100 000 K so I figured, can take the struggle every couple of years . Lifting the engine off both mounts is no fun on the driveway but it also helped tremendously with replacement of the very rusty, pinholed lines that go from transmission casing to radiator. Changing those lines was a breeze with extra clearance provided by the lifted engine.

 

Also haven't seen these before - do you have cooling issues and/or tow a lot?

Don't suppose any list product dimensions anywhere . .
#3 increased capacity is nice, if it fits

 

No issues, but generally speaking the cooler a transmission operates at the better so I figure if I hav ego swap my pan, maybe I will try something better.

 

Tiny update, for those interested... In expanding my searches into other transmissions of the same family, such as the 6R80, I found Ford make a metal pan also. These can be found pretty cheap. They have a large bump for extra capacity. Not sure about fitment but they will mount to the 6HP26.








EDIT:
Found a better pic. This pan is deeper than the usually metal pan we convert to, so I would say this is a deep pan when it comes to capacity. My concern with this design would be the filter, would need one for this pan with a longer neck I think.

 

I would not want to have to drop the pan for just a fluid change

 

If you are changing the fluid, the filter should be changed too really. But they make drain plugs that can be installed.