Hey so as the story goes, boy buys truck, boy throws trans tune on truck, boy starts lifting, boy puts big tires on, boy blows up TC and/or pump that controls TC.

Now i actually have an Expedition but I'm pretty sure more guys modify their trucks than Expeditions and they are essentially the same in this regard, so I'm posting here.

Well I got a steal of a deal on a 3000 km used HD gas TC ($65, I **** you not), I'm ordering the transmission Master rebuild kit, and a oil pump rebuild kit, shift kit, will track down a upgraded cooler. But the oil pan...

Anyone ordered one with the torsion bars? All the awesome ones I know won't fit, so anyone found one they were satisfied with? Can't really justify $350+ on an oil pan when there are cheaper ones but they just look like **** (ie, not cool and black with rad fins) or are way to big.

 

I run a deep cast alum pan on a 4r70w 02 torsion bar 4x4.
They are available from high performance shops.
My experience over many years is they don't greatly add anything but fluid volume in case of leakage.
They delay full fluid heating from a cold start where the system temperature sensor is located. This 'delays' the trans going into over drive on cold drive away until the fluid heats to about 95 degrees +/-.
The larger capacity pan runs with average temperatures just slightly cooler than stock once the temperature stabilizes on the road, so not much gain in cooling under those conditions..
The better thing to do is install a large aux cooler in line that does more cooling than a pan's larger volume.
I run a temperature gauge at the trans output to the radiator.
Heat gun temperature check shows an average of 40 degree drop through the radiator and through the aux large cooler.
I don't know your application or reason for interest in a deep pan.
In your climate, cooling should not be an issue unless your doing heavy towing as I once did pulling over 12,000 GCW.
The above is my long term experience for what it's worth.
Good luck.

 

I appreciate that.

On normal day to day stuff it probably wouldn't be necessary, but I'm building this truck for more adventure/travel. It tows often enough, but most I did the Coquihalla this summer and while pushing it up the pass admittedly with the OD off, and stock 3.73 gears, leveled on 35's decently loaded holding 90 km/h (about 55mph) there was transmission fluid leaking out and it was toasty. It never leaked before, and hasn't leaked a drop since so I can only imagine it wasn't happy with the heat.

I've since gone up another 3" (body lift) and have 37's sitting in the barn waiting on rims/spacers, and possibly a full suspension lift in the future. But with the other upgrades planned it seemed kinda dumb to not add the pan. I kinda dig the look black eBay/Amazon pans with air channels for cooling. I can't see it doing anything more than fins other than collecting road crap and nullifying them, or the AFE style pans, but $300 is a bit rich for a pan.

 

Take a look at the Derale 14208 cooler. It is reasonably priced compared to the others (afe, Mag hytech, etc.). I have not and am not running this pan, but have considered using it if I keep the truck. I am also looking at putting larger flow lines and a separate cooler on also. Good luck.

 

That was the one I was talking about as an Amazon pan. My question is tossing bar clearance.

I do love how the Canadian site lists that the pan is like 22' long...

 

In reading recent reviews on Amazon, it looks like there were a batch (possibly) of poor welds on these pans. Amazon sent folks new pans, and seems they (manufacture) corrected the issue. If you get one, report back here, but check out the welds closely before installing.

Not sure about clearance issues. Mine is running factory exhaust (5.4L) so I will look this weekend if I can.

 

Been a while since I was under there, but I remember having to remove the torsion bar cross member to drop the transmission on the 4.6L. so I'm curious of the clearance of it for a deeper pan.