Directions for my windage tray say for clearance to either cut spaces in the baffling, or to remove the baffling entirely. I removed the baffling in the oil pan. Any chance with the baffling removed that my oil pump is going to suck air during hard cornering. Should have thought of this BEFORE I ripped it out, but too late for that now.

Yes, that was why the baffle was in the pan in the first place.

When I replaced my oil pump and strainer it said the same thing.....no idea why....easier to get pan back on I guess. I ignored the direction and kept everything stock......no problems.

Phil

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GTDude
25 years GM experience

Should I scrap this pan and order a new one? Or is it fine to run without the pan baffling, and with a windage tray instead? This car will be autocrossed.

New pan is called for.
The baffel helps to maintain oil level in the pan for the pump to pic up during high speed turns as centrifical force will move fluid outwardly from the center point (radius) of the turn.

The windage tray blocks the air movement on the top of the oil so it is not blown out of the way by the crankshaft @ high RPMs so a proper amount of oil is available in the pan at all times.

Yeah. I just bought a new one. $95 and change. I am selling my old one along with some other v-6 stuff in the mall.

Let this be a lesson. When working on the car, make sure you aren't "sleep-working" late at night, or you do dumb $hit like I did last night.