Butler Windage Tray SPE-WT4??
 

Hello All- I learned the hard way why we should not run a factory windage tray in a race motor... Noticed a drop in idle oil pressure at Norwalk this year- assuming a piece of garbage was caught in the pump bypass. Cutting the filter open showed signs of metal. I guess that will happen when the crank takes out the windage tray and crank scaper! I was fortunate that all bearings, etc look good, so the Fram HP filter and bypass screen were doing their job.

Looking at options now for oil control. Fundamentally I like the idea of a windage tray and was curios if anyone has long term experience with the
Pontiac Louvered Windage Tray SPE-WT4 from Butler behind a "race" motor running 100+ passes per season? I mean, I did get 600+ runs out of the factory tray :) Butler claims it will not crack....

Other option is I spend some money on a oil pan with better oil control, but they can also be a PITA in a first gen f body. Regardless, I will fit a new crank scraper. I had been running the low profile Milodon 7qt pan.

Paul Spotts makes an excellent windage tray. He sells on eBay but sometimes runs out. If they're not on eBay he is probably out. We stock them if you have a hard time finding one.

Butler has the Tomahawk windage tray which is patterned after the factory tray but with a heavier gage material and better drainage is an option. Also Canton make a windage tray for a Pontiac. The Tomahawk mounts to the main caps and spacers can be use to add clearance for long stroke cranks. The canton and others mount on the pan rail that requires a little more work to get the oil pan sealed up.

https://butlerperformance.com/i-2445...windage%2Btray

https://butlerperformance.com/i-3078...windage%2Btray

Thank you for the notes. After digging into this a little further, I have concluded I should have a baffled oil pan (just a standard Miloden 7qt pan now), and a lot of folks are adamant on NO trays bolted to the main caps.

Looks like the Nitemare Performance pan is a good option, and includes the pump and pickup that I also need. Not quite as fancy as a Stefs pan, but looks to be a pretty decent package for the price.

Nitemare pan is very nice. I disagree about not using a windage tray. Currently having windage issues with an engine that is using nothing but a road race pan. I know a scraper and good windage tray will resolve the issue.

What Milodon pan are you using now? It sounds like the stock replacement pan with a baffle? ..... They made a great deep pan that didn't have any baffling. It's been long discontinued. If that's the one you have and decide to sell it please let me know. We have a source for a road race style pan similar to the one Canton & Milodon sell. If Nitemare is on B.O. let me know and I can get one made for you.

I just saw and responded to your message from messenger.

My Miloden pan is likely the common one- pic attached. comment about not having a windage tray was more oriented around cracking risk having it bolted to main caps vs in the pan like Stefs and Nitemare. Being my 4/5 factory tray lasted this long, I presume a good quality tray has minimal cracking risk. My other plan was to go with the Canton pan, Spotts Tray, and a scraper.

I have not yet discussed this with Darin, but he suggested their pan was not to be used with a scaper. I was a little confused by that, as i thought a rail mounted crank/rod scraper would benefit most any engine, as long as no physical interference to the pan or built in screen??

I attached another photo in case anyone is interested to see what a rotating assembly does to a windage tray. Some pretty fancy metal art...

I don't remember but I think Nightmares pan has a built in scraper like the one used in our road race pan.... See picture

I also think it has a built in mesh screen to help with windage.

I also posted a picture of the Milodon pan I'm looking for.

I have a Nitemare pan like the one in the picture.

I just got the butler SPE WT4. I haven't installed it yet but it seems like a very heavy gauge nice piece.

The factory windage tray can and does crack, I had one crack years back. I have not heard of any case where the Tomahawk windage tray has cracked and it is mounted to the main caps. The tomahawk is basically a copy of the factory tray but made of a heavier material with improved drainage. I believe the Tomahawk windage tray used with a scraper and a baffled pan should be a good system.

One thing about 3/4 stock trays is they actually made two different versions of it. Later on they removed a few of the ribs stamped into the tray for rigidity. I found a chunk of mine up in the lifter valley when I took it apart sure enough I had the less rib version installed. I replaced it with what l think is a better stock tray we will see come winter.

I have run the Tomahawk windage tray on two motors for 10+ years without issue. In fact it's going in the current motor and still looks like new.