Firstly this is what I believe to be underneath my 1987, everything I've read says so, alas my jacks didn't show and so I've not been underneath since I bought it.

The sump pan on the GM TH400 used on the XJS - is it a standard depth sump pan ?

There are some very nice chromed pans available in the USA - a standard and a deep version, the 'standard' looks the most likely and they have a drain plug in them, yes I could install a drain plug in mine - but I'm not going to if I can get a nice shiny chrome one.

 

I believe the pan is standard depth. The deep is for trucks that have much more ground clearance.

If you get a deep, you need a different filter with an extension tube too.

 

Standard will do me just fine - it is the drain plug I'm after really anything else is bonus.

 

The best aftermarket pan is a Moroso tig welded ally one, about 2 inches deeper and it comes with the longer tube etc etc. very easy to fit, twin magnetic drain plugs, and VERY importantly, they are at the front, lower, end of the pan. This is not dirt cheap, but is easily the best.
I have one, but started with a lovely chrome B&M, but the drain plug was total rubbish and leaked like a sieve.
The Moroso has a proper flange and thus seals far better than the pressed ones.

 

Dio you not worry about the proximity of that axhaust ?

Can't find any European supplier.

 

1) no
2) bought in the USA via amazon.

 

Had no choice but to go with a UK sourced pressed type. The spend on this recommission is getting way out of hand, I did reach out to Moroso but they've no suppliers in the EU, there are currently none on Amazon and the retailers that Moroso pointed me to were creative in the extreme when it came to shipping. The total cost for the pan would have passed the £400 pound mark by the time the UK customs applied 20% VAT to it - I can wait - there are higher priority items on the car to deal with.

 

Hardly worth replacing the pan, most only get the oil changed once in a lifetime. Maybe more if the gasket leaks.

 

Mine will be getting a couple of changes and that's mainly to make sure the torque convertor is purged as much as poss but I'll be doing this 12 months apart, then I'll likely be in a box before it needs doing again, getting the pan off is such a hassle that I plan to do once and then only because I'm replacing the transmission spring and bushing, almost certain the spring is busted the way the box is hanging - the centre pin is hanging below the mount by 60mm or so.

 

Ben,

These might be of interest to you.