Need to drop my transmission pan and have read
conflicting reports on what has to be removed first.
Its a 99 blazer 4dr 4x4. It looks like the crossmember
has to come out, but beyond that I'm unsure.

 

Depending on your exaust setup, you'll have to take that off. Is there something wrong with your transmission?

 

fluid is dark and truck is shifting hard, trans may be toast
but was thinking of changing fluid and filter as a last
resort before giving it its last rites

 

If your fluid looks like your engine oil dark, your trans is probably toast. That's what happened to my 99 K1500, opened up the pan to do a fluid change and my red atf was black and there was chunks in the pan. I ended up buying a new one from Geared Up Trans, they were the most reasonably priced out of them. 290k and shes still on the road. Of course the 383 stroker is probably what burned it up,lmfao.

 

If you pulling a hail mary to try to prolong before burial
BG6600 Quick Clean kit (2 part).. it cleans and removes deposits.
and try tossing in ZMAX Transmission Formula to your
transmission fluid, it's a micro lube.

Best of luck on that.

 

I have a 2000 4x4 and did not have to drop the crossmember, I did loosen the tans mount bolts and actually jack the transmission up about 1/4". This gave me room to maneuver the pan in pretty easily.

Also be sure to remove the shift cable from the mount (don't have to disconnect it at all just slide it out of the mount) so you have room to remove the mounting bolt for it.


* Those two tips above learned after an hour and a half of frustration.

- Brian

 

I'm looking to pull some codes hopefully for my 2003. I guess maybe you have that crossmember because it's a 4 door? I have no idea, I have a 2 door with a deep pan and no crossmember. Fluid isn't dark, but it's shifting hard and has erratic shifting. Best of luck, maybe you'll get lucky.