(Fwd) Re: oil pan baffles

["Ken Keith" <ken.keith@specialdevices.com>]

Hey, I got this response from Alex Neckas, who has done the oil pan 
conversion from a 20 valve.

Ken

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From:          "Alex Neckas" <Alex@onanshipping.com>
To:            keith@specialdevices.com
Date:          Wed, 15 Apr 1998 14:53:05 -0700
Subject:       Re: oil pan baffles
Priority:      normal

> My name's Ken Keith.  I'm on the quattro list, and we were discussing 
> putting a 20valve oil pan on a 10 valve motor.  Linus (below) mentioned 
> you had done this, and might be able to offer some insight as to what is 
> involved.

The most important factor in is little project is which car.  I used 
a oil pan from a 1991 200 TQ (3B) and put it into 1987 4000 Q.  I 
found that the stock baffling was very inadequate in this pan.  
During my quest to overcome this problem I learned a few things.

The problem that I was having involved turning to the right (hard).  
At the higher g's (which are rare in the 91 200) the oil wanted to 
climb the oil pan wall, then the block and with a little help of sump 
pressure, get squeezed out the crank case breather hole.  The oil 
then travel around the back of the engine and right to the intake of 
the turbo and provides a little lubrication that you are not looking 
for.

Using the S4 pan seemed like a simple fix.  Deeper and more capacity. 
Oops, to deep.  Now we don't clear the subframe.  The later model S4 
also came with a windage tray.  This little guy keeps the oil from 
slapping the crank in left hand turns.  The 3B pan has a 
side compartment that serves the same purpose.  I had to build my own 
baffle to fix the sloshing problem. 
 
> What can you tell me about the conversion?  As far as cost, modifications, 
> difficulty, results, etc.?

Do's:  Buy a 3B oil pan (used $50 -100, new $280 last time I 
checked).  S4 windage tray ($30 - you will have to physically check 
clearance on your crank), 2 Oil Pan gaskets ($40 / each), new bolts 
($25 - $30 not necessary but highly recommended), Sheet aluminum 10' 
x 24" x 0.1" ($5) and about 6 to 8 hours depending on your skill at 
fabrication.

Get's:  Additional cooling source.  Cool looking. lighter weight?  
Oh, and I did manage to solve the oil sloshing / starvation problem.

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From:          "Alex Neckas" <Alex@onanshipping.com>
To:            ken.keith@specialdevices.com
Date:          Thu, 16 Apr 1998 09:34:40 -0700
Subject:       Re: oil pan baffles
Priority:      normal

> Thanks!  I'm gonna post that to the q-list if you don't mind.  Let me
> know if you do!

There are a few more incidentals.  The 200 TQ with suspension, wheel 
and tire upgrades will achieve this "g" threshold that the oil will 
either leave the pick up or leave the crank case.  We had a spun 
bearing in our region and talking to Jon Beckius (Sport Wheels) he 
knows of four others (in 91 200's) that have destroyed engines.  I am not
sure if these were all oil starvation related failures but. . .

My plan was to sell the oil pan fix to those that were interested.  I can
modify a pan and do exchanges to minimize the down time of peoples cars. 
It basically takes all day to clean, tap and build the baffle.  My plan was
to modify the oil pan to allow for the use of the S4 windage tray and
include it and all the other parts I listed in my previous message.  How
much?  Well, I am not sure.  The parts (at cost) are $150.00 and I am
figuring a couple of hours to clean and sandblast, a couple of hours to
fabricate and install the baffle, modify pan, package, etc. . . Figure
$350.  I won't be set up to do it for a couple of weeks, however.

Feel free to paste in this message and post.
Alex Neckas