I will soon be coming up on 15,000 miles on my truck. I plan to change the engine oil, oil filter, Diffs front and rear, Transfer case, and Tranny fluid. When I do this I would like to add a double deep tranny pan and bigger diffs covers. I may also include a fumotovalve to the oil pan too.

Anyway, before I order my new dd tranny pan and diff covers......does anybody have any opinions about them? Is one brand as good as another? I also want to hook up my tranny Dipricol gauge to the new pan. Currently it is hooked up to the engine oil just to give it something to do until I add these new mods. Any suggestions or ideas are welcome!

 

I used the ATS 5 quart pan finned on my 05, the cooler the better for us in Texas!

 

TexasCTD,
I don't have an tranny pan so I can't comment on it, but I do have a Mag-Hytec diff. cover that I put on last weekend. It is a very nice piece, quality is excellent, finish was nice, install was a breeze. The finish (pics in my gallery) is the main reason I went with the Mag-Hytec over the PML for my diff. cover, I just like the looks better. It was a bit more expensive then the black PML but worth it in my opinion. It has a port on the top to add a temp sender to if you wish. I got it locally, PM me if you want to know where. The magnetic dipstick is a very nice touch as well, I pulled it out after 1 day and had a few pieces of steel wool on it (from when I cleaned up the mating surface prior to installing the new cover). In my Dana 80, it took just over 7 quarts to fill it up, about a quart or so over stock.

EDIT: Having said all that, I just checked the Mag-Hytec site because I forgot you have an American Axle, not a Dana, and I don't see that they have a cover for those. You might want to double check me though.

~Rob

 

Member MikeyB has an '03 with an American Axle and a PML, he could give you some insight on the PML diff. cover.
Member davdlinde has a PML tranny pan and seems to like it, here is a thread about it: Click Here

hth,
~Rob

 

I highly recommend the PML diff cover over the Mag Hytec. The current Mag Hytec is currently designed for the GM AAM, so two of the flange bolt holes are missing, you will have to use RTV to fill in the holes. Also, the level check hole isn't at the same level as the stock cover, so it's hard to judge from the dip stick.
The PML diff cover level check hole is at the same level as the stock cover, so no guessing there. 5 quarts is required to bring the level right up to the check hole. The PML uses the stock reusable rubber gasket. And the big plus for me with the PML is it's about $100 cheaper than Mag Hytec.

MikeyB

 

I think the first plus to PML for me was price.
The DPP site has a good explaination of the attributes of the product.
I haven't towed yet to see how much it helps with temps.
Seems to be a good product.

 

I have the PML trans pan as well and am happy with the quality. Very nice piece. I have never seen the Mag Hytec pan in person, but I can't imagine how it can add $100 worth of improvement over the PML pan. Price was deciding factor for me and no complaints yet.

 

Exactly what MikeyB said. Hell, if you're going to pay that much for a cover, you shouldn't have to RTV up bolt holes.

I have both the PML Rear Diff and Trans Pan. I opted not to go with the powder coating because of heat retention. Although powder coat looks nice, I elected practicality instead......decided on the bare aluminum cast......after install, looked quite well and matched up rather well on my Silver colored truck.

Can't think of any negatives about PML......great product, great price, great warranty, snap to install, fitment is perfect!.......plus you have 3 options......powder coat, painted, or "el natural."

 

I can't see any reason to get Mag Hytec over PML unless the looks are worth the difference to you.

I'm curious if the PML trans pan is truly 2 quarts more than stock capacity. The reason I wonder is that it claims to work for a wide range of years of dodge transmissions. I had read that when they introduced either 3rd gens or the 48re (not sure which), that they had increased the size of the factory trans pan, which at that time negated any additional fluid capacity the mag hytec 'deep' pan offered. Now I wonder is the PML pan larger than the current stock pan/mag hytec deep, or are the advertisements of 2 quarts more capacity based on the older smaller pans?

 

Lightman,

I'm thinking so.....if I remember correctly, after removing and draining my stock pan and replacing it with the PML........I put roughly 8 quarts of tranny fluid in....I believe my repair manual stated 6 quarts after a filter and fluid change.......I will have to verify though.

 

Also note that the 'bare aluminum' PML is anodized. Don't have to worry about corrosion.

MikeyB

 

Sounds like this thread is definately leaning toward PML over Mag Hytec. I appreciate all of your comments as I make a decision on this. Thanks. Keep em coming.

 

I went with the PML. See pics in my Gallery

 

Arghh, after all this talk I gave in and ordered the trans and rear diff covers today, lol. I will likely still remove the rear diff cover every other time to clean everything out, but am looking forward to the convenience of the new covers.

 

You are near the DFW area---you can see mine on the truck. Kinda pricy but it is the best one out there!