Ok, What have I done now... (904 problem?)

OK its off and here is what I think I know....

The fluid looks and smells pretty fresh. There is a little bit of dust in it.. I don't see any large pieces of aluminum. The magnet at the drain is clean too.

The pan with no gasket is 2 1/4" deep measured with a straight edge. I put a straight edge across the filter and measured to the flange face and it's 2" inside the pan. So that gives it 1/4" clearance plus the thickness of the squeezed gasket, so close to 3/8"... Think that is enough?

Now here's something. I had that paper gasket between the spacer and filter... Not between the spacer and VB. The gasket thing has gotta be only like 0.002" thick... It's nothing, BUT... Should it be between the VB and spacer... Would it really matter because I think both are submerged in fluid cause the VB hangs down inside the pan.

I just rolled back under it to check and yes the spacer and gasket match the opening on the VB so it's not blocked...

I am open to suggestions... What would you guys do next. I'm kinda thinking of installing the filter without spacer, tie back the kick down lever, filling it back up and trying again.

Thanks for keeping this thread going guys!