Windage Trays
Some people swear by windage trays and baffles while others feel they aren't necessary. According to Rick, they're a requirement in all pans to a certain extent. "The rpm of the engine, the oiling system setup, and the type of car a motor is in will all determine what will work best. All oil pan companies have their own opinion on what works, and the same pan will work for some, and not for others," says Rick. "In general, when vacuum is created, the characteristics of how oil responds to trays and baffles will change. That is why we are continually developing these parts, and new oil pans are always added to the Moroso product line."
Vacuum Pumps
"A Moroso vacuum pump will increase horsepower in two ways. The biggest attribute of our vacuum pump is it allows the engine to accelerate faster based on the lack of crankcase pressure in the engine. The rotating assembly will accelerate faster, and the oil sheds off the rods and crankshaft easier since no atmosphere is present. The second benefit is that our vacuum pump allows your piston ring package to be changed to lower tension rings, lowering oil pressure and creating less parasitic drag on the engine. Lower oil pressure occurs because the vacuum draws the oil from the bearing and the journal quicker, thus the oil pump sees less resistance and creates less pressure. That means less power will be used to drive the oil pump. The piston rings require less tension because the vacuum will actually create a better seal by creating negative pressure on the backside of the pistons.
The required accessories Moroso offers to run a vacuum pump are a drive kit from the crankshaft or any other component that runs at engine speed or half engine speed. A breather tank for the outlet side of the vacuum is required to catch any oil that may come out of it, and to release all the crankcase volume. In many cases, running a vacuum relief valve is critical, since maintaining a safe vacuum level is important. In most wet-sump engines, 10 to 12 inches of vacuum is ideal. Higher levels are capable of making more power, but oil return and oil pressure issues can occur. Using a Moroso vacuum pump on the street is definitely a viable option. It will prevent oil leaks, and pulls the moisture out of the engine faster. Again, too much vacuum can create problems, so speak with an engine builder for their recommendation."
Dry-Sump Systems
High-end drag and road racing cars often utilize dry-sump oiling systems, but when are they necessary and what components do they require? "The primary reason for running a dry-sump system is to have better oil control and make more power. Oil control is defined as having less windage in the oil pan, and pulling oil from certain parts of the engine to reduce drain back issues that can occur with certain cylinder head and block configurations," explains Rick. "Having less windage in the rotating assembly, and creating crankcase vacuum, in most cases without a vacuum pump, will increase power. Crankcase vacuum will always create more power as compared to running breathers."
Drag Springs
Moroso's drag springs have been used by racers seeking maximum hook for years. Selecting the correct set for your car isn't the least bit difficult, as long as you know how much it weighs. "Moroso's Trick Springs have been track-proven by professionals for optimum performance, and replace stock OEM springs with no modifications required," says Rick. "With a stock spring setup, unequal forces such as body movement and tire load cause unequal traction. Moroso's Trick rear springs are specially engineered to compress at a highly controlled rate, equalizing these forces to provide balanced weight transfer and traction for more consistent 60-foot times. To select the correct spring, you must weigh your car properly. Most towns have a public scale, or you can check with your local truck stop or race track." Specific procedures for weighing your drag car are available in the 2010 Moroso & Competition Engineering Catalog, or online at www.moroso.com.
Filters
Like oil pans, oil filters are an often underappreciated component in an engine's oiling system. Contrary to popular opinion, however, there's more to it than trapping the tiniest of particles. After many years of designing and testing racing oil systems and related components, Moroso has been able to determine what's most important to oil filtration. "Many people stress the importance of filtering the smallest particles out of your engine's oil, with references to micron ratings of 10 or less for a filter's efficiency. With the help of research performed by filtration technology experts, Moroso engineers have determined that particles smaller than 20 microns in diameter are not large enough to produce engine wear," Rick explains. "Furthermore, we've found that filters with extremely low micron ratings create an excessive pressure drop across the filter. They can be so restrictive that it will cause the filter bypass valve to open, and when that happens, no filtration will occur! To maximize filter performance, Moroso racing oil filters have a rating of 27 microns, which produces a maximum initial restriction of only 2.5 psi when tested to SAE J806 standards. The result is less pressure drop, more flow, less oil bypass, and maximum filtration performance, all important factors in severe racing conditions."