adding a transmission drain plug

[1984k30]

I am going to change my tranny fluid and filter and want to put a drain plug in.  I got one at my local parts store but am worried about it giving me problems.  My main concern is that it just has a o ring on the bolt you screw in. It does not have a stop and the more you tighten it the o ring will just crush maybe causing it to fail over time.  The bolt is not a pipe thread so I don't think teflon tape will help?  Anyone use one and not have a problem with it leaking.  I may just weld a nut to the pan and get a oil pan bolt and gasket and use that.

[jaredts]

The o-ring should hit and collapse some small amount...like .030" and then the head or something else should bottom out.  If it truly does just crush the o-ring more and more its not properly designed.  There should be an oring groove in the nut piece to take up like 75% of the o-ring's thickness if I'm picturing it correctly.  I guess you could take an old oil pan and cut the sheet metal and weld it to yours.  I think there was a post recently somewhere on here with a link to a pan that had a drain plug.  Seems like it would be worth a few bucks to save you all the trouble.

[1984k30]

I think the groove is what it needs.  I think I will take it to a friend of mine and him put it on his lathe and cut a groove in it. 

[VileZambonie]

They usually leak. What trans do you have? You'd be better off with an aftermarket pan.

[1984k30]

It is a 4l60.  I seen b&m makes a pan but not sure I want to spend 200.00 on it right now.  I thought I could get away with a ten dollar drain plug kit but may not be worth it if it starts leaking and I end up having to buy another pan because I drilled a hole in mine.

[TexasRed]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TCI-378011/

that's just 2 min of searching. I didn't check to see if that's the cheapest.

[Layne]

My B&M 2in deeper pan leaks, so maybe a drain plug isn't a good idea. Unless mine is  bad...

[Irish_Alley]

you can get the gasket thats on oil pan drain plugs for a couple cents at the auto store. and do what you said get a similar size bolt and nut weld the nut on and be done

[VileZambonie]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330423628673&viewitem=

[1984k30]

Vile do you think that pan would be ok?  Seems like it would be china junk to me.  Seems like every one I ever talked to about cheap chrome engine oil pans always said they leaked but I'm up to giving it a shot.  Maybe the expensive ones are made in china too? Also what kind of gasket to you think is best to use.  cork, rubber, paper or garlock material.

[beastie_3]

i have one that is either summit or jegs brand, it is cast aluminum and has thick flanges to help against leaks. I like it and it has a drain plug.

[Dr_Snooz]

Why don't you just use a crush washer? I've tried orings before. They don't seal at all. As soon as a little heat builds up inside the case, it will push that oring right out of the way. A crush washer will work real well. Alternatively, you can just slather a normal washer up with some RTV. That also seems to work very well.

[VileZambonie]

That was just a cheap one I would at least use an aluminum one like this

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-700R4-POLISHED-ALUMINUM-TRANSMISSION-PAN-8493-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4cefa7c348QQitemZ330438263624QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[beastie_3]

Mine...http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SME-1008R/

[bake74]

     The pan in Beastie's link looks like it is done right and would not have any problems sealing.  looks stout too.