I finally got my base plate. There is a part that is supposed to bolt to the underside of the base plate. I went to the dealer to order it, but I didn't see it in any of the exploded drawings. I thought it was an oil splash shield, but the parts guy says there is nothing listed in the parts catalog by that name.

Does anybody have a part number for it? Thanks. (BTW, I did do a search).

 

Might be called splash shield or windage tray...but why can't you use the original one?

 

I'm replacing a carb with tpi.

 

Alrighty, then, for everybody (or anybody) that's interested, the p/n for this part is 14087401. (I think it's the right number. GM describes it as an oil splash shield. I have't gotten the part yet). Anyway, in doing a search for this part, there seem to be several questions:
1. What does it do?
2. Is it necessary?

The two main thoughts seem to be that it either prevents oil from splashing on the lower intake and heating up the incoming air or that it prevents oil from splashing on the lower intake and "coking" on the underside of the intake. (Both seem to be related anyway).

As to whether it is necessary or not, there are two schools of thought: Yes and no.

I called up SD to try and get a part number for the shield. I talked to a pleasant and helpful individual at SD who advised he did not think it was a necessary part (and there seem to be some people on this board that agree).

I'm going to go ahead and put the shield on my vortec base plate because the factory put one on theirs and because Dyno Don, who is going to build the tpi engine for me, says its necessary.

 

The two main thoughts seem to be that it either prevents oil from splashing on the lower intake and heating up the incoming air or that it prevents oil from splashing on the lower intake and "coking" on the underside of the intake. (Both seem to be related anyway).


You got it!!!

 

It also provides a downward angle for oil to flow back down with little restriction.

Its a must have in my book.

 

Then that settles it!

A short edit to let everyone know that the MSRP is $12.65 (according to gmpartsdirect.com) for this part.

 

GM didn't spend 50 cents to put one on there because it wasn't needed.
Every TPI intake I've seen has one. SD sounds like they cheaped out and didn't supply one with their intake.
You're doing the right thing.

 

I am pretty sure none of the aftermarket bases come with the splash shield.

 

When I ordered my base plate from SDPC it was included along with the bolts to attach it. -John

 

Mine showed up bare.

 

My Edelbrock was also without the shield, I just re-used my stock one.

 

My accell came with one bolted up, that was from LPE though.

 

Sorry to bring this back from the dead, but I just bolted the splash shield on the base plate. The base plate is drilled and tapped to accept the shield. It seems a little odd that SD (or Edelbrock) would make the base plate to accept a splash shield, but not provide one.

 

I reused the one from my stock TPI baseplate and just bolted it on to the Edelbrock TPI baseplate. I believe Edelbrock thinks that mojarity of people take this route so that is why they do not provide one. If they had to provide one the cost would go up and few would use it as they have the old one. Allen

 

Precisely, since 95% of people buying these are taking off a stock manifold that has the shield on it, why raise production cost to supply something most people don't need.

 

There is no apparent consistency. 383 rocket bird (and at least one other) gets one. Others don't.

It isn't a big deal, but there seem to be more than a few people that aren't bothering to install it.

 

Technically you don't have to install it, but its not a bad idea and if you have one theres no reason not to put it on.