I have an 88 Iroc with a 700R4 and a 305 TPI. Was changing the ATF fluid tonight and was unable to get the pan off. The trans crossmember was preventing the removal of the pan. All the bolts are out, and the pan will tilt in the front (engine side) but is hung on something internally.

Does the trans crossmember need to be removed? That is the only solution I can see.

Both Chiltons and Haynes manuals say nothing about this step.

Please advise!

Thanks, Mike Jones

i had that problem about 2 weeks ago. my pan was really hard to get off. the mount got in the way and there is a plastic guard up front that blocked it. and the filter might be in the way a bit. i took a screw driver and made sure the seal was loose and i just jiggled the crap out of the pan. it came down, but not easily. and if you cant get the bolts off the pan near the tranny mount area, just take an open end wrench and do it real slow (took me several min for each). putting it back on was a pain in the **** too.

Just support the tailshaft and remove the cross member, piece of cake. Add a drain plug to the tranny pan while you are there though, it will make life ALLOT easier...

So is that a yes?

I could not find that documented anywhere.

Just wanted to make sure that was what was required before I pulled the crossmember.

Thanks for the info.

Ive always got mine off without removing the crossmember. I usually support it in the center with the floorjack and a piece of wood and jack it down a little at a time and jiggle it back and forth. Where it usually hangs up is on the drives side rear corner.