[ZLRob]

NOTE: PLEASE check page 2 for further updates regarding base ZL1 transmission pan conversion to a ZL1 1LE style pan!


I just figured I'd throw this up on here, as it seems that information tends to get buried on this site and never comes back again unless you do a deep search:

HUGE shout-out to CalgaryZL1, as this was originally his idea. I bothered him enough to give me any and all information he had regarding his transmission pan that he custom modified for his A10 to facilitate for easier services. I am just about done with this project, the only thing I'm waiting for at this point is a one way aluminum check valve so fluid will not gravity drain back down into the bottles I will be using to do drain and refills. Outside of that, the project is complete and turned out quite nice.

One item of note I must make is that 2017-2019 ZL1's had steel transmission pans of a PN starting with: 242XXXX while the one I got is for 2020 and later Z's which switched to an aluminum unit, PN is in the photos, but for the lazy, PN: 24043536. I tried obtaining a 24043537 ZL1 1LE pan, but they are not currently available outside of getting them directly from GM in Detroit. The only difference between the standard aluminum pans and the aluminum 1LE pan is the standpipe height, as the 1LE pan has a shorter standpipe.

If someone has a 1LE pan laying around not installed or currently off, and can get the height of the standpipe, I and anyone else could easily accomplish 1LE fluid capacities by trimming the standpipe down using a pipe cutter.




M16 x 1.5 magnetic drain plug (Amazon) and Lodaller M16 x 1.5 aluminum bung (Summit Racing).





NoSpill 1/4 NPT fitting PN: 45-13818-01 and Lodaller 1/4 NPT aluminum bung (Summit Racing).



NoSpill CD 2003 hose fitting, SurfaceMaxx 1/4 male pressure washer fitting (Ace Hardware) PN: SMX-PWA304 and 3/8 x 1/4 MIP hose barb fitting.





SurfaceMaxx 1/4 female fitting PN: SMX-PWA300 connected to its respective opposite SurfaceMaxx fitting along with another 3/8 x 1/4 MIP hose barb fitting, with the opposite SurfaceMaxx mating part's part number posted in the photo above.
The pump you see is a Harbor Freight gear oil and fluid pump.


Unfortunately, this little project required obtaining items from various sources, a piece meal, have you, as trying to purchase things from one place was not feasible, but once you have everything you need, it really all comes together beautifully once it is all said and done. I hope this helps anyone else looking to do the same moving forward!

[Camfab]

Nice work, welds are pretty darn tight, maybe a dip of the tungsten here and there, looks solid, clean and professional.

[SpeZ]

Unfortunately I did not do that yet, even tho I changed 2 or 3x the transmission fluid already. With a drain plug it makes the job alot easier and less messy.

Maybe for some with more knowledge, does the aluminium pan noticeable reduce fluid temperatur on track, I mean it transfers heat alot faster than steel and the pan surface is large

[djctoto]

Nice job, well worth the effort.
I did the same thing upgrading from a steel to aluminum pan without the fill port. I have a Mityvac and with an adapter it's easy to fill from the stove pipe / check plug. I also epoxied a heat sink onto the pan to help dissipate some additional heat.
I made a video which shows the pan with the mods I did to if you're interested[/B].

[ZLRob]

Originally Posted by Camfab

Nice work, welds are pretty darn tight, maybe a dip of the tungsten here and there, looks solid, clean and professional.

Thanks man. I had a local sheet metal fabrication joint do the weld job for me. I've always been through the moon with the work they do so when they told me they are capable of doing aluminum welding I jumped all over it. Cost me $136 but it was well worth it given the results.

Originally Posted by SpeZ

Unfortunately I did not do that yet, even tho I changed 2 or 3x the transmission fluid already. With a drain plug it makes the job alot easier and less messy.

Maybe for some with more knowledge, does the aluminium pan noticeable reduce fluid temperatur on track, I mean it transfers heat alot faster than steel and the pan surface is large

Aluminum absorbs heat very quickly, BUT it also dissipates it just as quick and it does it a lot better than steel does hence why many if not all modern day engine blocks are made of all aluminum instead of steel/ iron.

[Joshinator99]

Originally Posted by ZLRob

Aluminum absorbs heat very quickly but it dissipates it a lot better than steel does hence why many if not all modern day engine blocks are made of all aluminum instead of steel/ iron.

Not to mention 90 pounds off the front of the car.

[cdb95z28]

I have a '22 SS 1LE with the A10. My OE pan # was 24043537, aluminum. In 2023 I bought a ZLE pan, #24298919 and installed it with a bung and drain plug. To my surprise the OE pan and the ZLE pan had the exact same standoff height. Currently my OE parts source is now showing the 24298919 pan as the correct pan for my SS 1LE. And it is still the ZLE pan#.




The following two pics are showing the exact same standoff height of my OE and ZLE pans.





FWIW, we know how critical getting the ATF level correct. This pic shows the difference in volume from initially setting my level at the 167*-176*F temp threshold (per GM service manual) to then a month later resetting it to a higher 203*-212*F threshold. More temp equals more fluid expansion. So the more expansion overflows more thru the standoff. THe volume was exactly 1 cup (8oz).

The reason I tried the higher temp threshold was because I had the shift issues that were consistent with excessive ATF level. And both scenarios were the OE pan.

I currently set the level to 185*-194*F, a middle of the road threshold between the above temp thresholds.

That 1 cup of volume does not amount to much vertical level height difference.

[ZLRob]

Originally Posted by Joshinator99

Not to mention 90 pounds off the front of the car.

SUPER AGREED. I forgot about the weight being a critical factor in change in metal material usage as well.

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

I have a '22 SS 1LE with the A10. My OE pan # was 24043537, aluminum. In 2023 I bought a ZLE pan, #24298919 and installed it with a bung and drain plug. To my surprise the OE pan and the ZLE pan had the exact same standoff height. Currently my OE parts source is now showing the 24298919 pan as the correct pan for my SS 1LE. And it is still the ZLE pan#.

Attachment 1172131


The following two pics are showing the exact same standoff height of my OE and ZLE pans.
Attachment 1172132

Attachment 1172133


FWIW, we know how critical getting the ATF level correct. This pic shows the difference in volume from initially setting my level at the 167*-176*F temp threshold (per GM service manual) to then a month later resetting it to a higher 203*-212*F threshold. More temp equals more fluid expansion. So the more expansion overflows more thru the standoff. THe volume was exactly 1 cup (8oz).

The reason I tried the higher temp threshold was because I had the shift issues that were consistent with excessive ATF level. And both scenarios were the OE pan.

I currently set the level to 185*-194*F, a middle of the road threshold between the above temp thresholds.

That 1 cup of volume does not amount to much vertical level height difference.

Attachment 1172134

Do you by chance have the height for the standpipe on your pan? The 1LE SS and the 1LE ZL1 do indeed use the same pans as previously confirmed by a member on a different thread, but knowing the height of that standpipe would definitely help, as since I have the pan off, I could easily mark and trim off standpipe height using a pipe cutter and any future member doing a pan replacement could do the same as well.

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by ZLRob

SUPER AGREED. I forgot about the weight being a critical factor in change in metal material usage as well.



Do you by chance have the height for the standpipe on your pan? The 1LE SS and the 1LE ZL1 do indeed use the same pans as previously confirmed by a member on a different thread, but knowing the height of that standpipe would definitely help, as since I have the pan off, I could easily mark and trim off standpipe height using a pipe cutter and any future member doing a pan replacement could do the same as well.

I'll dig up my OE pan and measure the standoff

[ZLRob]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

I'll dig up my OE pan and measure the standoff

You'll be doing a huge public service to everyone here if you can get that info for us!


Here is a photo of the finalized hose attachment with the one way check valve finally in place in the meantime.

[cdb95z28]

My OE A10 pan.



Straightedge across pan flanges showing standoff height relative to pan flange. This was the same as the #24298919 pan that is currently on the car.



Pan total depth from flange to bottom. About 65-66mm. Pan was sitting flush on a Longacre scale pad...nice flat plane. See next photo for exact location this measurement was taken. Pan does have a slight taper front to rear. Please measure your pans from the exact spot I did to minimize this variable. and report the # along with the pan # you have! I did not do this when I did the swap a few years ago. It is possible the two pans I have are different beyond their same standoff height.



Notice blue lines that I created with the level to call out a consistent spot to compare depth.




Standoff height, 55.8mm.


Had I known all these measurements when I did the swap I would have seen I may not have needed a different pan, based on standoff height alone. But, GM makes part # changes for a variety of reasons. As noted I did not check the #24298919 pan depth.

[ZLRob]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

My OE A10 pan.

Attachment 1172177

Straightedge across pan flanges showing standoff height relative to pan flange. This was the same as the #24298919 pan that is currently on the car.

Attachment 1172178

Pan total depth from flange to bottom. About 65-66mm. Pan was sitting flush on a Longacre scale pad...nice flat plane. See next photo for exact location this measurement was taken. Pan does have a slight taper front to rear. Please measure your pans from the exact spot I did to minimize this variable. and report the # along with the pan # you have! I did not do this when I did the swap a few years ago. It is possible the two pans I have are different beyond their same standoff height.

Attachment 1172181

Notice blue lines that I created with the level to call out a consistent spot to compare depth.

Attachment 1172182


Standoff height, 55.8mm.
Attachment 1172180

Had I known all these measurements when I did the swap I would have seen I may not have needed a different pan, based on standoff height alone. But, GM makes part # changes for a variety of reasons. As noted I did not check the #24298919 pan depth.

Thanks a bunch for this!


I'll have to check the 24043536 pan and report back. It appears that the standoff is considerably lower just eyeballing it's relative height to the mounting flange surface for your 3537 1LE pan (which is the most current PN GM offers compared to my 3536 one.

[cdb95z28]

Awesome, You're Welcome!

Originally Posted by ZLRob

Thanks a bunch for this!


I'll have to check the 24043536 pan and report back. It appears that the standoff is considerably lower just eyeballing it's relative height to the mounting flange surface for your 3537 1LE pan (which is the most current PN GM offers compared to my 3536 one.

[Tay]

Thanks for this ZLRob

Which is the A10 ZLE pan?

24298919 or 24043537?