[Triggerman]

Ken, where is our full side kickout? Also would be good to have a couple of different lower profiles to choose from to fit a variety of lowered chassis, but allowing maximum oil capacity. TM

[Old Man Taylor]

Roger - I welded straps at each of the stamped steel openings, where I thought it would be prone to cracking. I also welded a plate across both of the two bolt mounting pads so it wouldn't crack at the bolts. I took pictures of it when I did it, but now I can't find them.

------------------
Jim

[MLS]

I noticed in the PAW catalog they offer a screen type windage tray, maybe this would combat flex which results in cracking. They also claimed it was more efficient than a solid metal tray.

[Maurice Hood]

What is everyone's thoughts and/or experience with the screen type tray from PAW, or anywhere else? Thanks ...Maurice

[This message has been edited by Maurice Hood (edited 03-13-2000).]

[Scott Misus]

Ace:

My only suggestion would be to take a look at the fabulous wet sump pan (designed by Bob Maxey) that Canton offers, copy it, then sell it cheaper.

Just about everybody I've ever talked to that has used a Ray Tray (designed by Mike's brother, Ray Hunt) has reported that the screen came unwelded in pieces from the tray and ended up in the bottom of the oil pan.

[This message has been edited by Scott Misus (edited 03-13-2000).]

[Jerry Brock]

I wasn't going to post on the Ray Tray, but since it was brought up, here it is.
The Ray Tray I had came out in pieces, luckily causing no further damage. The expanded metal broke at the cross points, and pieces ended up in the pan. I thought at the time that it was just my engine, but have found that others have had the same experience.
I use a full stock Pontiac tray now, and have had no problems.

[Tom McQueen]

Ill make it unanimous. The ray tray will self destruct over time. I have also found pieces of mine in the pan.

[MLS]

Jerry, is the stock tray still available through GM, if not, who supplies them? Also, I've seen claims of up to 25 HP gains in certain applications from using a tray vs not. Is this sales hype?

[Jerry Brock]

I bought mine from Warpath in Cleveland, but I have seen a few at swap meets. I had to massage several points to clear the rod bolts on my 455. It has been on the engine for 6 years.
I feel that anytime I can keep the crank out of the oil, it has to help.

[Paul Spotts]

The tray that came apart in my old engine was the Ray Tray as well. Once in changing the oil - small pieces of the screen came out - not a happy oil change. My next motor will not use any tray.
Ace - One suggestion on Milodon pan. I don't like the welded sump or lower pan section. I recieved a pan from them and the welding had slag and then was gold annodized. Could remove gold flakes with my hand - sent the pan back. I just don't like anything welded inside a motor unless its tigged or cleaned up real well - not seen in production parts.

[Skip Fix]

My recent Milodon appeared TIG welded and little to no slag on the inside. Only thing I didn't like was the mid year 3 prong rear pan gasket. I wish they would convert to the later 5 prong ones to hold in place better. Might get the welder and Dremel tool to convert the next one.

Skip

[KEN CROCIE]

The full length trays do tend to crack in race type engines.
we reinforced them at the thin points at the louvers to reduce this tendancy.OMT was correct in his assumption that the 4/5 tray is thicker.the full length is.040" and the 4/5 is .050".Most 4/5 trays are spaced for the 455 crank(thicker pad).Our Super Comp Fiat once slowed down during eliminations and no attempts at re tuning would bring it back.
After pulling the Pan(post race)we found the tray-broken off -at the bottom of the pan.it cost us about 2 tenths and the race.REplaced the tray and the 2 tenths came back.
we also experimented with mesh trays on the 74 S/S T/A.Total disaster!in about 5 runs we started to get a rod knock!
the teardown wasn't pretty.The mains had been starved for oil!! We surmised that the mesh tray had allowed the oil in the pan to slosh thru it on the launch and stay in a oil cloud around the crank--not returning to the oil pump pickup.The mesh pans do well on the dyno but thats not what we drive.

[greg mcdonald]

I just bought one of the milidon windage trays and it does not work because the studs are too long to allow the stock pan to button up.Basically the bottom of the pasn becomes the windage tray on the front anyway soo....

[Don Kennedy]

I don't run a windage tray>No problem. I run a very modifyied screen

[russ467]

No problem at all with my canton tray.

[gearbanger]

I think I am going to cut the scraper part off the full tray and use that in my 461. I don't want any scrap in my oil pan, and I am willind to sacrifice any hp that might be lost by removing the scraper. I saw a post by Steve Coomes that showed how he bolted the oil dipstick tube to the tray and that looked like a good way to do it.