For Any Welders Out There

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I'm getting my ducks in a row for when I drop the transmission pan on my Sierra to change the filter. My pan doesn't have a drain plug, YET! I found this on line and I'm thinking of adding this to the pan before I re-install it. I like this one because it's relatively flat on the outside with no space taken up inside the pan.



I'll need someone to weld this on since I'm not a welder, hence the reason for my topic. How much do you it would cost for someone to weld this onto my pan? Hole will aready be drilled. Just welding it in place and nothing else. Where I live I'm a little limited in the number of welders around, at least the few who advertise. I'd like to get an idea of what to expect. Thanks.
 
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That’s an NPT bung and plug, NPT isn’t usually used on drains (especially automotive) because it tends to wear out after several uses and not seal well.
 
Guy I use pretty regularly welded a bung onto a rear end cover on my GMC for $10 (factory plug in the case hopelessly rusted & stripped). Look for a little local guy who does stuff for cash.
 
Originally Posted By: tom slick
That’s an NPT bung and plug, NPT isn’t usually used on drains (especially automotive) because it tends to wear out after several uses and not seal well.
A little Teflon tape fixes that issue-then the tape wears instead of the fittings.
 
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I paid $30 for someone to tig weld a Dorman plug onto mine.


Good advice, you want TIG for this application.
 
Originally Posted By: Slick17601
motor_oil_madman said:
I paid $30 for someone to tig weld a Dorman plug onto mine.


Good advice, you want TIG for this application.

It will leak or look like [censored] with any other method due to being so thin.
 
Originally Posted By: tom slick
That’s an NPT bung and plug, NPT isn’t usually used on drains (especially automotive) because it tends to wear out after several uses and not seal well.


In this situation, NPT will do just fine. It is not sealing against pressure, so it does not have to be torqued heavily. Tape or joint compound (I prefer the compound) will lubricate the threads and ensure no wear on the threads.

Heavy truck axle drains are 1/2 in NPT. They have FPT on the axle and the MPT plug screws in flush so that it is not sticking down and risking damage if the truck is driven over a rock. If a flanged plug sealed with an o-ring is used, there is the danger of it getting sheared off by a rock and the driver only finds out when the axle loses all its oil and starts making horrible sounds or seizes up. I have drained the oil in many axles with MPT plugs and there has never been an issue with the drain plugs.
 
Originally Posted By: spasm3
You can buy a pan with a drain plug cheap enough. I usually don't like a lot of dorman stuff, but i have this pan and its going on when i change the fluid on the avalanche. It feels well made and has a nice drain bolt.

$35 and no welding. A few reviews about incomplete stamping, but mine looks fine and is flat.

https://www.amazon.com/Dorman-265-811-Transmission-Oil-Pan/dp/B002U6ELS4


^Correct answer. It's one of the only Dorman parts I would recommend.
 
Your on the right track.

What I did was,
* Buy a Hex Nut with the same thread as your current Drain Plug.
* Have Hex Nut welded onto (exterior) Pan.
* Drill Hole thru Pan.
* Use the same Drain Plug you were using before.

Once a year I now do a Drain-N-Fill of Trans Fluid.

Cost: My Nephew did the welding (= free).
 
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
You only get about yes, half the fluid out when changing the transmission fluid. B&M is a long standing performance automatic transmission specialist and offers a drain plug kit for cheap. You'll leave a little in the pan how it's designed, but again, you never get all the fluid changed out regardless.

https://www.amazon.com/80250-Automatic-Transmission-Universal-Drain/dp/B00029WR78








That's what I had welded on. Lol it's like $7 I didn't have faith in that plastic washer not leaking.
 
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I'm my area, someone that small and one off I usually charge $20, but I'm in the city. Where ever you bring it, make sure the pan is clean and grease free. My price goes up if I have to put the part in the parts washer.
 
That B&M one is really cool. Only found that in the last 5 years or so. Before that I used to drill a hole and weld a metric thread nut over the hole. This makes it so much easier.
 
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
You only get about yes, half the fluid out when changing the transmission fluid. B&M is a long standing performance automatic transmission specialist and offers a drain plug kit for cheap. You'll leave a little in the pan how it's designed, but again, you never get all the fluid changed out regardless.

https://www.amazon.com/80250-Automatic-Transmission-Universal-Drain/dp/B00029WR78




I ordered something like that from Advance Auto Parts . I think , this one ;

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/need...=drain+plug+kit

Best of luck too you all , :)
 
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