Drag Racing With Road Race Oil Pan?

[RoasterStrudel]

I've been running the Street/Strip 7" deep Milodon pan on my big block for years (part number 39390). I've scraped it on the street a couple times, but it's survived pretty well.

I was thinking of getting the 31581 Milodon "Road Race," pan for my new engine to have a little more street clearance (though my headers and trans pan will still be low-hanging). Anyone have any experience drag racing with this pan? Will it start sucking air with extended pulls down the quarter mile? Car will be low 10 seconds at the absolute fastest if that's a reasonable measurement.

 

[gkent]

Will it start sucking air with extended pulls down the quarter mile?

If it doesn't suck air on the first pull, why should it do it on any successive pulls?
The only issue I can see with the RR pan is that the opening is small - only about 4" x 4" - whereas the deep pans only have front and rear baffles which don't hinder the oil returning to the pan. On the other hand, guys have raced with stock 5 and 6 quart pans with no issues. However, there are two other considerations: 1) the RPM you spin the motor and 2) whether or not you're using the high volume pump. Either of these will drain the pan faster.

 

[66Satellite47]

I have the 31581 pan on my 512" motor. Works just fine, only drag runs so far, no street miles.

 

[Tex013]

works fine on my 440 and my 505.
Been running the road race pan for 5 years or so

Tex

 

[RoasterStrudel]

Thanks guys! I do have a high volume pump and shift at 6,500 RPM if that helps. Just wanted to hear first hand experience. I am going from an internal to external pickup, but I'm still working on cleaning up the engine bay first.

 

[mmissile]

Several people I know, have been using them without issue. My current hemi-build has one waiting for assembly.

 

[gkent]

I am going from an internal to external pickup, but I'm still working on cleaning up the engine bay first.

If you can use an internal pickup, do it! The external pickup is a real nuisance to plumb and there is no performance gain.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I have several buddies that use the road race pan and make many passes every year with no issues from 9 to 12 second cars. I personally have never run one.

 

[hangn0ut]

Swinging pickup? Remove that inlet screen. Its a major restriction. Do the math and see how much.

 

[RoasterStrudel]

You guys are fantastic. Yeah, I just wanted to hear first hand some guys who had experience with them. Didn't want to find out the hard way hanging around redline if it decided to start pulling bubbles at the top of 2nd or 3rd!

If you can use an internal pickup, do it! The external pickup is a real nuisance to plumb and there is no performance gain.

The external pickup for this application is required due to clearance. No choice in this block!

Swinging pickup? Remove that inlet screen. Its a major restriction. Do the math and see how much.

I'll probably be using a static pickup in this application. Thanks for the advice, though!

 

[66Satellite47]

In the pre-build for my 512 I suggested the 31581 pan to my builder. He was leary. He talked to Milodon & they convinced him. external/static should work great, baffling & pickup location seems really good.