I'm finishing putting the motor back together and need to decide what to do with the windage tray. I really have no reason to buy a new oil pan, but with the stud kit on the mains, the factory windage tray doesn't fit. Has anyone used an aftermarket one like the Milodon Diamond Stripper? Will it fit onto the studs I have in there now? I need to decide what to do tomorrow so I can either order this part or just say the hell with it and order a new pan.

 

ARP makes a stud kit for the 400SBC that fits and works with your tray.

 

Yea, shortblock is already assembled so I'd rather not have to redo anything.

 

The windage tray is only worth about 7 HP or so, I put in a main stud kit and a main cap girdle to increase strength and just left out the windage tray becuase it wouldn't work with the main girdle.

 

I guess I'm not looking at it from a horsepower issue as much as a safety issue. From what I read its a good idea to keep it in place, I'm going to call my motor guy tomorrow though and find out what he thinks. Anyone else had an experience with this?

 

hope you dont plan on spinning it past 6K.

 

BOttom line.... Whatever it takes, OEM or aftermarket, utilize the (a) windage tray.

As people would be AMAZED to observe the action of valve springs, caps, and retainers with the aid of a 'spintron', or the intake pulses inside of an intake manifold, people would be just as amazed to observe the action/characteristics that oil takes on, as it is returning to the pan from the 'topend'. Smokey (maybe others) brought this to the attention of the oblivious. The term 'rope' was used. Then add to the foray, the 'huricanne' the crank can generate as it spins merrily along. Unabated by the lack of (an effective) windage tray.