[leeklm]

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 K]

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.

[Tim Corcoran]

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

[leeklm]

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.

[PAUL K]

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.

[leeklm]

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...

[PAUL K]

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.

[hojs69]

http://nitemareperformance.com/roadracepan.html

[gman005]

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

[Dlaw455]

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

[Tim Corcoran]

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.

[grandam1979]

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.

[David Holmberg]

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.