windage tray for mild build ?
 

I am building a mild street 400 for the street car. The 400 had no windage tray from the factory. Should I look at installing one for a mild 400 build? I am thinking for $100 can't hurt but don't know if it would be a waste of money.

I think I would get a pan that has the sump built in to help contain the oil at the pump.Tom

Not worth the effort or cost. I don't even have one.

I would, especially on a street engine.... We always try to use them. The factory spent a lot of dough installing them on millions of engines.... I'm betting they did something positive. Pontiac "did things for a reason". They stopped using windage trays when cost cutting took precedence over quality.

I don’t have one. But, I do run the Canton 15-400 pan that keeps the oil away from the crank. Even at 7 qts.

You need to check caps if they are even tapped for one

What year did they stop using them?

I use the same pan.

I believe the factory stopped using them in mid 72 when the baffled oil pan became the standard.
The baffled pan was instagted by the handling that the Trans Ams where capable of.

The 1974 engines still had the windage trays, they stopped using them in 1975 from what I’ve seen.

Had ‘73 and ‘74 455s both equipped with trays. Also had a ‘75 455, no tray. All three were virgin not rebuilt.

All 3 engines had the baffled oil pan.

Pontiac Windage Tray & Oil Baffle Tech. Including dates and pictures within the link here.

https://www.gtoforum.com/threads/pon...e-tech.137776/

Similar information regarding production dates within the H-O Racing Pontiac book where it was stated "Pontiac has used windage trays on all their V-8's up though mid-1973".

( Information provided in this post does not represent any endorsement. And unless specified it is not based on personal experience and is offered for general interest only )

Note the comment and pictures regarding the full length tray was more prone to cracking. That happened to one I installed many years ago.



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Here is a links on discussions regarding the factory trays cracking. These are only two of many such threads..

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...t=windage+tray

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...t=windage+tray


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I have a 74 YY 455 that doesn’t have a tray and a 73 YC 455 that does.

Yep. I turn this thing to 6000 to 6300 on many occasions. No smoking or oil consumption.

If your caps are tapped it seems like a no brainer to add one. Windage tray and/or a factory-style baffled pan are a baseline for any build IMO.

They don’t fit well with main studs. At least without mods.

You’re right, unmodified they tray won’t clear. In my last build, the machine shop punched out holes in the stock tray to clear the studs. Butler sells a spacer kit that gives you clearance for main studs. I have them with the 3/4 length Tomahawk tray in my new build.

All the ‘72 engines I have torn down had windage trays installed. I believe Bart is correct: 1975.

My engine was a 74 400 and had no windage tray. Caps are not drilled for one. Lower dipstick tube was bolted to the top of the center cap.
I was thinking of a windage tray that I used on the race car. It mounts between the pan and block.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/c...8/make/pontiac

Mike, using that tray, how is the pan gasket situated?

I bought one just like that from Kauffman. On the race car I put it on top of oil pan gasket on the block and then used a bead of silicone over the tray before I put the pan on. Never had a leak.

If possible we try to stay away from sandwiching anything not absolutely necessary between the pan and block for a street build. If your block is a 74, the bosses should be cast into the main caps, you can easily drill and tap the mounting holes there. If not we have used factory head bolts with the threaded accessory studs for the main cap bolts. You can drill the corresponding holes in the factory or Tomahawk style windage tray and mount it with four nuts.... Just make sure the head bolts are close to the same length as your original main cap bolts.

I have a new one of those trays. 50$+ shipping.

I'm in the seemingly extra-long process of building 3 455's right now.

The 73 XA casting 485428 has a 3/4 length windage tray.
The 74 485428 casting has none.
The 75 YW 500813 casting also has no windage tray.

Glenn

That mirrors the information in the previous link, V-8's up though mid-1973


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The 73 XA have a non-baffled pan?


:confused:

John, all 3 motors had baffled pans.

Glenn

The Milodon tray uses studs with stand-offs, and can be used with most factory pans.

Windage occurs at lower RPMs as the stroke increases.

ALL engines have some degree of windage at all RPMs. (with few exceptions)

In some cases, windage can 'suspend' much of the oil within the block, and can starve the pickup of oil, or at least introduce air into the oil flow.

Aerated oil has more of a tendency to stick to parts, or at least slow the return of oil to the sump.

And that's all not taking into account parasitic losses.

IMO, unless there is a specific reason not to run one, make at least some type of effort to include one on every build.


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