Is there enough clearance to take the trans oil pan down and out of the way to get to the filter or would I need a lift to do the job?

 

I had plenty of room to drain the fluid, I assumed dropping the pan wouldnt be a problem

 

Looking at it from the bottom, it seems like the whole tube for the dipstick needs to come down with it. Thats why Im wondering if it needs alot of room to get it down, if I do need more room than I can get with a couple of ramps. I dont want to start and not be able to drop it(that will only ruin the gasket).

 

There's a separation in the dipstick tube a few inches up from the pan. I can't remember how far exactly, but its there. The tube flares out with a small o-ring inside of it and it'll slide apart and back together when you remove and install the pan. Mine took me a good half hour to wiggle apart, but thats from 11 years in Michigan. Once I got it apart i cleaned it up with some 220grit sandpaper and when I reinstalled, I just threw a little bit of vaseline on the smaller side of the tube to relube the o-ring so it didn't tear.

I did my filter/gasket on ramps in the garage, stock height other than that. just take your time with cleaning the pan out and the gasket surfaces. Other than that good luck!

 

The tube disconnect sucks, I could never get mine off. It ended up being easy enough to unbolt the retainer clip for the disptick tube in the engine bay. Brought the whole thing down. I had tons of room under there with 4" and 33"s. Still plenty with 2" lift and 31's.

 

Thanks for the replies. I started taking the bolt off and tried to pry the pan off but seems to be pretty stuck. Its getting late and dont wanna be working on it till night time. I think Ill just wait a couple of weeks till I go visit my brother in law(he has a shop) and just do it there and change my tranny mount while Im at it(seem to be a lil worn out).

 

You need a little room under there to get to the 20 ish 10 mm bolts (urgh). Then you hope that the dipstick will disconnect from the pan (urgh). Otherwise you have to unbolt the dipstick mount inside the engine compartment to lower the pan enough to get the filter in (urgh).

I'm never pulling another xj transmission filter again. I'd just fill, drive, drain, fill and call it a day.

And don't overfill, don't use synthetic (my tranny slipped), check the manual for the correct type of fluid and don't overfill. It does not have a Chrysler tranny.