Gents:
If I may weigh in with a few comments. I just skimmed the pages so if someone else said this, I apologize.
One of the critical reasons for a dry sump is to swirl the oil down the oil tank baffles to de-airate the oil. Air mixed with the oil does not cool or lubricate nearly as efficiently as just straight oil.
Now, most of us dream we are Mario Andretti and we really aren't. (Well, maybe Pat...). As such, there are numerous other considerations for our cars I think we should all consider when building a car.
First HEAT.
Rule #1 HEAT STINKS IN THESE CARS.
I personally tell all of my customers to run their engines as loose as possible. Does this decrease the life of the engine...debatable. (Tight engines wear more on start up and are much less tolerant of crap in the oil.) Of course, tight engines have more to wear before they wear out...
BUT,
Does any of that really matter to us? I am not sure. If the engine is tight, it will be hot. (Can't argue that one.) If it is hot we will not drive them as much as we really fantasize we wish we could. (Can't argue that one.) If we don't drive them because the engine is too hot, then what does it matter how long the engine lasts when we won't be around to use it anyway? If we really all sat down and told each other the truth, we would most all admit we shift at 5-6000 a couple of times and then have a grin so big we can't see any longer so we have to slow down anyway. (Keep going and the grin will soon be suplanted with an officer in the rear view mirror--which none of us want.) We shift a couple of times, we pass a few guys who are going "too slow", and in the end just end up crusing around thinking we are cool, (because we are).
The vast majority of us are street drivers in street cars and I seriously doubt the necessity of a dry sump or a race engine. Race engines stink to drive on the street and street engines are still way fun to drive on the track--even if we can't keep up with Pat. At least for me, my engine and car way outpaces my ability to drive it, and I don't think I'm too bad a driver either. As for me, I'll take a loose street engine any day over any even mildly built race engine and let Pat take the checkered flag at the track.
Now, if I could drive as good Pat, then I might have some other thoughts.
David
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