Is a windage tray worth the effort/cost on basic street engine that would only see 5000rpm once in a blue moon? 390 2wd truck pan.
Or should one be used on basically everything with maybe the exception of a deeper 4x4 or FT bread pan.
In my opinion, the answer is: maybe.
As for the effort/cost, well in the case of the FE, and if one is referring to the O.E.M. tray, one must posses such or purchase as they are readily available, at not to great a cost; and if in the process of assembly, slap-it-on; not so great an effort (generally).
For relativity of the original posters' inquiry, he has a 2 w.d. O.E. pan, not a deep pan, nothing with scrapers, doors, windows, kick-outs, screens, or other trickery; yes, all of these possibilities in engineering may change the response to the original inquiry, but!
I suppose the inquiry into the subject of the O.E.s' "bread-box" pans perhaps sorta opens the door on perhaps - what would work better, even if it doesn't fit the chassis, and if this engine is jacked-up enough of perhaps the cross member (2wd trk), or? Maybe it was a possibility? And yes, with my limited experience, I like big, deep, full length pans, with lots of capacity, but unlike the as delivered by Ford example, it must have "some" baffling as otherwise it may look good on the dyno (and it can!), but may prove disappointing in a moving chassis.
To further attempt to answer the question, the intention of most tray designs is to aid in better oil control, including as a slosh baffle; the goal is to aid in a better quality/condition of the lubricant; and in order to provide the best effect of insulation of the oil in the pans' resevoir from incident of contact with components within the crankcase which are in motion, including the effects of the oil in high-speed motion above and windage effects. Many of the recommended engineering endeavors stated are potentially applicable, including the simplest (if space permits) distance, but in the context of the O.P., I think the inquiry was for perhaps a not to difficult not to expensive an option with what he possessed, and perhaps not so unlike the O.E., who with perhaps a few real engineers, handed us their tray decades ago. Is it the best thing ever produced, I'd say not, and this is not a case of nostalgic romance, but nothing is ideal in all circumstances, but I don't really recall any instances of note where it was established to be the cause of failure, and it's relatively cheap, and of little effort in consequence of installation (as long as the pan is already off anyway).
Besides, I'm stuck on the idea that with some stock nothin' fancy, bare-gut pan, it's better than nothin'!
And Mr. Blykins, my purpose was not to ruffle anyone's feathers, as I was, and still am earnestly interested in your observations leading to the conclusion in the inquiry; but perhaps I allowed myself to follow your lead, as mine was a "response", but to that, if truly offended, know it was not my intension.
Scott.
