A.M. Performance Extra Capacity Baffled Racing Oil Pans
 

UPDATE!

Here is the list of people who have opted in and are confirmed for this run of oil pans:

1. ChrisSlicks
2. TravisJB
3. The illustrious Shamu, whose 370Z keeps getting sweeter.
4. wstar


Thanks to all who have ordered!

We have developed an effective oil pan that addresses all the surging and starving oil pickup issues that the 370Z suffers from when put on track. We have extensively tested our solution and seen huge improvements in the consistency of our oil pressure, and have seen significantly lower bearing wear in race conditions as a result.

We are finished with the prototyping phase of this part, and have a final design that is ready for production:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3063/...22a2a887a0.jpg
oil pan 1 by A.M. Performance, on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/...04eac67cde.jpg
oil pan 2 by A.M. Performance, on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/...2206277ca6.jpg
oil pan 3 by A.M. Performance, on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5197/...3927a9729d.jpg
oil pan by A.M. Performance, on Flickr

Why are we telling you guys about this? Well, we are going to be making a small run of these, and while we are going ahead with production, we'd like to offer them to the general public, as it will be some time before we need to make another run, and it is as easy to have our machine shop crank out 20 pans as it is to make 4.

This piece is machined from billet aluminum and is a direct bolt-on. It adds an extra quart of oil capacity, which combines with the finned design to help bring temperatures down. More importantly, it features a very effective baffling structure that controls the engine oil in high g-loading situations. Before installing the prototype of this pan, we saw significant loss of oil pressure in certain braking and cornering situations, affecting both engine longevity and performance (variations in oil pressure affect the ECU's movement on cam timing). After installing this pan, we have seen a huge improvement in our oil pressure data logging.

Initial price for this piece is set $1050, and in comes with the necessary oil pickup tube. This is the next best thing to dropping $10k or more to design a dry-sump system!

Please contact us here or at sales (at) amperformanceracing.com with any questions!

Thanks,

Mike

Impressive looking piece. Just out of curiosity, how much lower does the pan sit when compared to the cross member?

Very cool design. Also interested in the clearance height change of the pan.

Thanks Dustin! We just gave our engineering staff a pat on the back! As for the positioning of the pan, it is about an inch lower than stock, but still higher than the crossmember, so it won't get ripped off when you go off-roading and the stock plastic under tray still fits fine.

Thanks!

Mike

sub'd.

wooooowwwwww thanks guys

Very nice. I would defiantly consider this next year some time when the track days come alot more. Would like to see it priced around $875.

Have you guys put together a rear diff cooling kit? Some kits that are out there are high. For I've priced everything exactly part for part and still come out in the good by $300. Just easier to buy a kit put together. But putting one together is not bad.

Repped

It's very tempting. It would be nice if the price could come down some, but given nobody has a competing product yet, I think you'll still sell some of them even at $1050. I think I'll go in on the first set most likely, but I probably wouldn't be ready to purchase until sometime in August, I have a lot of travel going on between now and then.

What does your schedule look like for actually having the first batch out the door?

Diff temps are a problem on our cars, especially when running longer sessions. They put something together for Shamu's car so they should be able to replicate it in kit form. Pump, small Setrab core, thermostatic switch, and oil lines. Difficult part is deciding to tap the cover for the oil lines or using the fill and drain holes. Problem with using the fill hole is that you never get the oil capacity quite right as you can't account for the oil being taken up in the core and lines, which given the small oil capacity is an issue.

I'm probably down for a sump, given how hard I beat the car on track it is a worthwhile investment.

Are you absolutely sure it's above the crossmember in the end (are we talking about the crossmember under the engine, just behind the oil pan)?

I have one of the AAM oil pan spacers on my car now. I guess i never measured the thickness of the spacer, but it should be about an inch, and with the spacer + stock oil pan, the bottom edge of my oil pan is definitely coming out lower than everything else around it (although the plastic tray still fits, since it's flexible).

Also, I notice your drain plug hole is on the bottom though, whereas stock hides it at an angle. Is the drain plug head going to change the overall clearance?

Sorry for the 10,000 questions, one more thing came to mind: do the moving baffles allow the oil to leak back slowly or do they close off completely? Just thinking about drain on oil changes here.

Does the differential cooling kit need to have a pump as well? I remember reading that is one of the more complicated aspects to a fully functional cooler setup, it is really unbelievable how expensive most of the existing 370z diff coolers are.

Yea I've thought of this after looking at others. I'd like to use the drain/ fill holes to keep it simpler. I'm sure there's a good enough solution for getting it close enough.

I've have had two situations where mine has overheated. My diff would make some awful sounds when it did. And would take a good part of the day to get it back where it needed to be. Almost like the clutch plates couldn't take it. Which I now feel there will eventually be some unusally wear happing for the extra heat. I want to faith in the OS Giken LSD. But no more than what I'm doing, no big concerns. I've had a brief conversation with Shamu about it.

All this seem to be more when I take it to the mountains on miles of tight turns.

Yea they do. For it has to have a way to pump threw the cooler and back into the diff. Sort of like a oil cooler but obviously are cars already have a oil pump.

Really the two most expensives parts to the cooler are the pump and the fittings.

I'm definitely interested as well so please let me know the time frame for the initial run.

We'd like that too! Unfortunately, these things are EXPENSIVE to design and produce, and our engineers insist on financial compensation for their work! We may be able to bring the cost down if we get enough orders, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.


We're going to making this run very soon, as we need to have these pans on our race cars by the Laguna Seca round July 7-9.

100% absolutely yes. Not only do we have to protect the oil pan when the car gets bounced off track, over curbs, and God knows what else, but we we have a zero-tolerance ride-height rule. We cannot afford to design anything that compromises our ground clearance.


We are using a flush plug.


No effect on oil changes, the trap doors are hinged and are opened and shut by lateral g loading. Unless you are changing the oil during a track session they won't be any issue. If you are changing the oil on the track, the baffles are the least of your concerns.


We do have a diff cooler setup on our race car, and will eventually be offering a kit to the public. For now, however, we need to focus on getting our race cars fully developed and our team running full speed ahead. We will be getting together our plans for retail parts once we get into the off-season, and will be keeping you guys up to date with all our decisions.

Thanks!

Mike

Good answers :tup:

Count me in for the first batch then, although I won't be able to install until early August sometime due to travel constraints.

I'm satisfied.

One more minor question. Do we have to cut off or otherwise bend the metal tab that holds on the under-tray?

I'll reference wstar's install. Last pic in his post.
http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...an-spacer.html

Well, they can't move the location of that bolt. But compared to the spacer install, they also don't have an extra inch of material under the bolts, so there would be an inch more room to work with there. One would think that would make for enough room to get a small socket into there.

I can't wait until you can build that car to finish top 15. Rough start so far, hang in there. I hate seeing mustangs and camaros finish ahead of your Nismo if it finishes. Show Fall Line and Rum Bum how its done.. Good Luck.

Mike, I'll take one. Hit me up here when ready travisjb@gmail.com

Thanks

Mike,

Sign me up for one! Hmmm how about extra capacity rear diff cover?:hello: do you need a deposit?

You guys are designing some of the coolest stuff! Nothing like racing to find all the stress points on this platform.

Two words: gear wrench.

Well, we've run two races, finished one, and lost 15th on the last lap, so we're about as close a you can get to the top-15! Really, we've made a significant jump in power since VIR, and we're always moving forward on the chassis. At Laguna we want top-10 at minimum.

Woohoo!

Yee haw, considering some sort of solution for that, I'll get back to you, thank you so much, and darn skippy! I think that covers everything.

Mike

Incredible looking piece! This is the real deal people! Wish I had the budget for one of my own right now, but it will have to go on "the list."

Thanks Mike!

We're glad you like it, we really want to become known for bringing the highest quality parts available for Nissan racing parts, so hearing compliments like that really makes our day!

Mike

Well so far so good Mike! Keep it up!

Hey Mike, thanks for answering our questions on your video response. This piece looks amazing and I hope there are new bits coming :)

- Raul

I'm just going to leave these here...

[IMG]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6050/...54dd822019.jpg
IMG_0825 by A.M. Performance, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6037/...b84e5e3542.jpg
IMG_0814 by A.M. Performance, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5232/...66263642f6.jpg
IMG_0816 by A.M. Performance, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5279/...f80734ec28.jpg
IMG_0820 by A.M. Performance, on Flickr[/IMG]


Hopefully that gets two more orders and we can roll on this piece!

Mike

IMG fail

Those are purdy...

Mike, I think you need to order two of them (gotta have a backup just in case you start a second car), so they can start making em :)

Sexy. When can I haz? How's the crazy prep for Laguna going?

Ha! If they implement special pricing for the unemployed than count me in. :)

Just a quick update here, we ran the new oil pans at Laguna Seca and saw dramatic improvement in oil control with no issues, so we are going ahead with this order. The pans are already made and we are waiting on pickups to come in. Once we are ready to ship, we'll collect payment and send these out. We still have two available for purchase, btw...

Thanks!

You guys have any plans for a better fuel pick up system for fuel starvation?

Give! :p

Seriously my next time trial is in 2 weeks and I have to change the oil anyway so I'd love to do it at the same time. CC is ready :tiphat:

Mine can wait a few weeks... run Chris' order first if you like

Ditto, at this point I'm backlogged on getting new parts installed on the car anyways. Stupid job holding back my fun :P

Fuel cell :ugh: