Question for engine builders
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 425
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From: richmond virginia
Question for engine builders
Is there any power advantage to installing a windage tray in the bottom end of my 396 engine? It is apart and I'm working to make the HP as much as possible during the rebuild.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
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They were used on solid lifter motors to keep more oil to the bottom end. Your 396 should have one. Don't know your gain HP numbers but I highly doubt it
Race Director
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From: Cottonwood AZ
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Race Director
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From: Fresno California
Having one is better than not having one...All Pontiacs used them in the '60's. Prevents oil foaming at higher RPM and reduces splash drag on the crank. There is no downside to installing one.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Southington CT
Oil and windage is something not many people think about as it is not a flashy add on. One thing I do when building a new motor is to fill the pan with water on the workbench to figure out the correct amount of oil to use. On my 365 ci sbc in my Nova I turn that to 8700 rpm every pass and trap at 8200+ so oil control is very important. The 496 BBC in the vette I use a Moroso pan with a trap door and windage tray/screen. That motor never sees above 7000 rpm so windage isn't that critical as with the 365 sb.
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Drifting
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From: TU CUM CARI NEW.MEX.
pm me if interested 66racer
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
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it is there to prevent the 120 MPH wind generated by the rotating assy turning at 6000 RPMs blowing down into the pan and blowing the oil up the sides of the pan away from the pickup. that is why it is called a "windage" tray
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From: Central Arkansas
Given the penny pinching accountants from back in that era I can only believe that powertrain engineers were able to convince them of some benefit and function even when factory installed on fairly low reving hydraulic lifter motors like 383 and 440 Mopars. Can't hurt and the GM version is great in that it's all internal to the pan. My 440 GTX I have to sandwich it between two oil pan gaskets.
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Anything you can do for oil control is always a good thing. The GM Windage tray looks simple but works very well. The LS-7 pan and tray is a great setup for the stock look.
Jim.
Jim.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Pasco Florida
I agree with Clem and others. I think the windage tray is very important.
Somewhere around here I have a lot of the paperwork from engineering on the windage tray that they came up with for the 67-69 Z28. Interesting stuff. If I happen to find it, I'll scan and post.
Somewhere around here I have a lot of the paperwork from engineering on the windage tray that they came up with for the 67-69 Z28. Interesting stuff. If I happen to find it, I'll scan and post.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: CT
Yes there is a HP gain. Anytime you keep oil away from the crank and rotating parts there is a gain. Deep sump pans and windage trays do a big part in keeping the oil away from these parts.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 783
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From: Coral Springs Florida
I build up a 68' Z/28 (mid 70's) that would spin at 8K rpm, the windage tray does a couple of important things. It allows the oil to drop down, hit the tray and enter the pan sump faster which keeps the spinning crank from whipping the oil into a foam. If you want to really increase the positives of this, knife edge the crankshaft counterweights. They slice through the oil dropping down and neatly cut through it, before it reaches the windage tray, again reducing oil foaming and allowing higher engine rpms.
I was an avid follower of Smoky Yunick and all his ideas, believe me there are several guys who ran across my little "Z" running LS6 Chevelles who took second place. All my engine work was done by Glen Lazzar "The Funny Farmer" from Webster NY. He was turning 6.78 1/4 miles at 189 mph in Gainesville FL in 1975 which was pretty fast for the day.
http://www.smokeyyunick.com/videos.php
I was an avid follower of Smoky Yunick and all his ideas, believe me there are several guys who ran across my little "Z" running LS6 Chevelles who took second place. All my engine work was done by Glen Lazzar "The Funny Farmer" from Webster NY. He was turning 6.78 1/4 miles at 189 mph in Gainesville FL in 1975 which was pretty fast for the day.
http://www.smokeyyunick.com/videos.php
Last edited by mjdart; Jun 22, 2017 at 10:59 PM.