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FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: fryedaddy on October 26, 2023, 12:02:51 PM

Title: windage tray
Post by: fryedaddy on October 26, 2023, 12:02:51 PM
my 428 has a stock oil pan with a windage tray from mid 1980s.im getting ready to pull the pan and replace it.question is,should i leave the tray off or use it on the new pan?probably using a stock new pan
Title: Re: windage tray
Post by: JimNolan on October 26, 2023, 01:39:26 PM
I've got a windage tray in my 410 engine but I don't drag race it anymore. I got one in my 390 and don't drag race it. I really don't think I need them. If you drag race I'd think about leaving it in.
Title: Re: windage tray
Post by: Urgefor on October 26, 2023, 01:45:11 PM
My 2 cents.  Unless you have another motor you want to use it in or are possibly concerned about sealing up the oil pan with the tray included, better to have it installed than sitting around collecting dust and rust.
Title: Re: windage tray
Post by: e philpott on October 26, 2023, 02:18:45 PM
Use it since you have it
Title: Re: windage tray
Post by: fryedaddy on October 30, 2023, 03:34:52 PM
what about the valley tin,with aftermarket heads and intake would you still use the valley tin?
Title: Re: windage tray
Post by: Urgefor on October 30, 2023, 04:09:37 PM
Hard to say w/o seeing the heads and intake being used.  May or may not fit.  If you have threaded the 6 holes by the center oil passage and are using plugs and nipples to route oil to the front and rear of the engine for return to the oil pan, probably not much need for it if any.
Title: Re: windage tray
Post by: galaxiex on October 30, 2023, 04:59:40 PM
I will not be using the valley tin on my 428 build.
Not necessary and interferes with the roller lifters.
Title: Re: windage tray
Post by: JamesonRacing on October 31, 2023, 10:06:52 AM
No reason to not use the valley tin if it fits.  Minimizes hot oil splash on the bottom of the intake manifold.  Like others have said, the tin usually interferes with roller lifters, and all four of my FE powered cars have roller lifters, so can't use it on mine, but I would if it fit.  Henry used them for a reason.
Title: Re: windage tray
Post by: blykins on October 31, 2023, 10:24:35 AM
There are always instances where something can't be used and the end results are still exactly the same.   On a Victor intake, you can't use the rocker tins, but somehow everything still magically works.  On roller lifter engines, valley tins can't be used, but still everything somehow works just as well.   Ford quit using oil slingers in the late 70's and if we leave them out today, everything somehow works just as good. 

If you have them and are compelled to use them, that's fine.  But if you leave them out, everything will still work just as good.  I promise.

To this day, I haven't used one single valley tin, rocker tin, or oil slinger in any engine I've built.  You won't find any of the old factory tins in my shop anywhere.

Title: Re: windage tray
Post by: Barry_R on November 01, 2023, 05:53:01 AM
We will use valley trays on flat tappet stuff if we remember to put it in.  By the time you clearance one for roller lifters it ends up looking like a lace curtain - not worth the effort.

Rocker trays get installed if they fit.  Since they won't fit on many aftermarket roller rocker systems - they also get left out most often.

I install windage trays fairly often.  The add exactly nothing on the dyno, but everybody uses them - so they must do something ???.  Probably helps with oil spray control hitting the sump.

I might have installed three slingers in 20 years...