Are there any negative effects of deep trans pans?

 

ground clearance

 

I agree, the ground clearance will result in some damage to deep tranny pan. And beware of the cast aluminium ones they do not bend like steel.

 

The B&M steel deep pan is way to deep. Hangs so low you will scrape it hard on speed bumps and steep driveways even. I had one and it was very troublesome on my lowered Firebird. One time I went into a steep driveway, and of course the pan scraped again. Went into the store, came out and saw a big puddle of tranny fluid and thought "oh crap, finally scraped a hole all the way through". Well, no but what was happening was the drain plug was the thing that was scraping the most, and actually getting loosened up to the point fluid started draining out around the threads.

I took the B&M pan off and installed an aluminum TCI deep pan which is not as deep and actually the ground clearance was livable. I did scrape it on rare occasions, but it only mildly scraped the leading edge of the fins. I also creamed some big rocks and such on the highways with it and it never "shattered" like some people claimed it will. The TCI pan is stout with a capital "S" and will not break by hitting rocks or scraping driveways. It adds 2 quarts extra capacity and doesn't need a filter extension. The drain plug is actually protected from rocks/driveways by the cooling fins. It's an excellent piece.

 

I have the same TCI pan as Tom does and I have to agree this thing is double tuff. I have hit a speed bump or two with it with not effects on it at all. As stated above the ground clerance is livable.

 

I just installed a new 700r4 tranny in my car. Where should the tranny dipstick read with the larger tranny pan?

 

Depends why you wanted a deep pan on the tranny. If the lifter/pickup is still in the stock location then on the full mark is full. If the filter/pickup is relocated lower than you can either still use the full mark or remark the dipstick to where the proper amount of oil in the tranny puts the level.

Since a deeper tranny oil pan is strictly for extra capacity plus more oil helps disipate heat, I'd have to say the full mark on the dipstick is the proper level.

There's no advantage to having a deep tranny oil pan just to keep the oil level lower. It's not like there's the risk of windage like in an engine.

 

all the deep trans pans are designed to work with the factory dip stick. Otherwise you wouldn't be gaining any capacity.
- the only negative is ground clearance, as others have stated.