Stock L98 Windage tray. Is it needed?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,388
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From: Murrysville PA
Stock L98 Windage tray. Is it needed?
When I had my 396 built, I did not have the stock windage tray put back in. The engine builder told me that the way it mounts to the main cap bolts will give me false torque readings. So I have no tray under the crank. What are the consequences of this? Is it possible that I could use more oil becasue of all the splashing on the cylinder walls? I use one quart every 500 miles currently. That's not freeway miles, but fairly hard driving short runs.
Jason
Jason
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Joined: Mar 1999
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From: delmont pa
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Re: Stock L98 Windage tray. Is it needed? (89vette)
the windage tray does what its name says,it keep the wind from the rotating crankshaft(120 mph at 6000 rpm) which blows the oil from the pan up into the engine. just take your air hose and blow into a pan of water and see what happens. a stripper screen tray is the best way to go,stops the windage and strips the oil from the rotating assy.:chevy
[Modified by clem zahrobsky, 11:08 AM 10/10/2002]
[Modified by clem zahrobsky, 11:11 AM 10/10/2002]
[Modified by clem zahrobsky, 11:08 AM 10/10/2002]
[Modified by clem zahrobsky, 11:11 AM 10/10/2002]
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,631
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From: Fountain Hills AZ
Re: Stock L98 Windage tray. Is it needed? (89vette)
I agree with the others, the windage tray is a desirable piece and shouldn't be left off. As Clem already mentioned, there is tremendous air movement inside the crankcase. It's bad enough that power is lost by the extra energy consumed when the crank has to turn against oil instead of much less dense air but that oil that's robbing you of power is also not available for lubrication and cooling. At high rpm, oil can remain suspended around the crankshaft creating unnecessary resistance. This is called "roping". Besides increasing resisitance to rotation that consumes power, that oil isn't returning to the pan. Some engine builders understand engines, some engine builders just understand parts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,019
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From: down that one road next to that big tree
Re: Stock L98 Windage tray. Is it needed? (Vetterodder)
the stock tray won't easily fit a 396 but it could with minor mods. i'd just invest in a canton 6-7qt road race pan with a trap door & built in tray, the only internal mod would be moving the pickup to the right location for your new pan.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,388
Likes: 42
From: Murrysville PA
Re: Stock L98 Windage tray. Is it needed? (gtsyellow)
That's not true. The stock pan fits very easy. There is only one tiny area that needed a couple whacks with a hammer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,215
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From: Tampa Florida
Re: Stock L98 Windage tray. Is it needed? (89vette)
I wouldn't pull the engine to install it or anything as I don't believe that will help you oil burning problem. It is more a HP producing item (and durability at high rpm) than keeping oil out of combustion chamber, etc.
If you had access to it, then I would certainly reinstall it.
:)
If you had access to it, then I would certainly reinstall it.
:)
