Trans. drain plug and gauge install

Lago_F150 · #1 08-14-2003, 12:58 PM

I have the 4R70W transmission. Those of you familiar with this transmission know that it has no drain plug in the pan. Troyer Performance sells a drain plug kit that also has the built-in ability to accept a standard 1/8" MPT gauge probe. Most people seem to install a drain plug in or near the "dimple" in the pan. Would this be the ideal place to install the sending unit of the temperature gauge also? There seems to be a lot of debate as to where the sender unit should be. What have you guys done in the past? Thanks in advance for your input!

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JustinH · #2 08-17-2003, 10:26 PM

Ford makes a 4r70w pan with a drain plug.

I put one in my 95 thunderbird, and it is an excellent piece.

It is a deepsump unit, with a drain plug for easy draining.

It runs about 50 bucks, but it is well worth it.

I beleive it is from one of the vans, or the 5.4 trucks.

Just ask you dealer, if you really get stuck and can't find the part number i can probably dig it up.

Justin

ronhop · #3 08-21-2003, 12:49 PM

I installed a B&M drain plug I bought at O'Reilleys for about $6.
I installed it in the rear corner of the pan on the driver's side of the pan. It does not even come close to touching anything on or around the valve body. When I drain the pan all I do is put the passenger side front tire up on a curb so the fluid runs over to the driver's side to get out as much as I can.

I was not very comfortable putting the B&M plug near the dimple in the center since that's where the filter draws fuid from. I did not want to restrict that in any way. Maybe there is enough room and I was just anal about not causing a problem by installing the plug. Better safe than sorry I say.

I asked my local dealer quite some time ago about a pan with a drain plug and he said it was the same pan that I currently had with a provision for a plug. Yes, and it was about $50. I've got the 4r70w/5.4 combination.

Good luck.

SVTErick · #4 08-21-2003, 01:25 PM

how do i go about draining the pan when i change my ATF and filter? im also going to buy a plug but i got no clue as to what to do with it? ill be installing a valve body also.

ronhop · #5 08-21-2003, 02:24 PM

There's a ton of posts on how to do that but this first time you do it you will have to drop the pan completely. The fluid will spill over the top of the pan so you need to put a big shallow pan under it to catch the fluid. It's a messy job so wear a crummy shirt and wear safety glasses since the stuff kind of runs all over the place. Just loosen all of the pan bolts and then take them out working from the front of the pan to the back. The pan will lean down at the front and a fair amount of fluid will run out. Remove the remaining bolts in the rear of the pan and the pan will drop right down.

The filter just pops out. Pull it straight down. Just be sure the orange colored 'gasket/o-ring' seal comes out with it. If it's not on the filter it's stuck in the hole the filter was in. Just grab it with your finger and takke it out. Put some clean fluid on the new filter's o-ring/gasket seal and carefully push the new filter into place. It will stay there on it's own.

The pan gasket is re-usable so don't throw it away. If your new filter has a cork gasket (Fram has this), throw that away instead. The stock gasket is a nice piece. Mine is still original and it don't leak at all.

There are a lot of posts on changing trans fluid. It's actually pretty easy to do, it's just a bit of a mess the first time you do it without a plug in the pan.

The B&M pan plug kit requires you to drill a 1/2" hole in the pan in a location that will not affect the shift linkage, fluid filter or the valve body itself. Follow the instructions that came with the plug kit. That is also very straight forward. Read my other response as to where I drilled the hole and put the plug. There are other posts out there that explain how to install a plug as well so just search around and follow the instructions that you feel the most comfortable with.

SVTErick · #6 08-21-2003, 02:37 PM

thanks man that cleared up a lot i appreciate it!

ronhop · #7 08-21-2003, 03:28 PM

No sweat.

Good luck.

BlueOvalFitter · #8 08-21-2003, 03:33 PM

SVT,I told you,if you go back a few pages in this forum you will see a complete install with pictures post on how to install the plug.AJRagno did the post!When I installed mine i put it in the dimple at the very bottom of the pan towards the back.And I used a B&M kit!