The cooling aspect of the engine pans has long been suspected and generally accepted, though not to my knowledge proven. A more well-established benefit of them is that they keep road gunk out of the engine bay and specifically out of the carb intake.
Quote from Restorer, Mar. 1966:
Quote:
It is doubtful if in the period when A’s were extensively used that any brisk business was ever done in replacement shields. Rather, the shields were removed and thrown away as being nothing but a nuisance. It is true that the shields were troublesome because first they cracked at the engine attaching side. This produced squeaks and rattles. Because of this, these parts generally became discards at the time of first oil pan removal if not before.
Original pans are now in demand and are generally scarce which attests to the widespread scrapping of them years ago. The demand, of course, is not because of the functional value but is created by those who wish to have their engine installations complete and authentic as to detail. This is a worthy object and one with which none would take exception. There is some belief though that other advantages do accrue to those who decide to install the splash pans. We can’t believe that Ford would have persisted in their installation had they not been of some good use.
We cannot vouch for it, but there is the statement made that the use of these pans or shields results in an increase of cooling airflow through the radiator core. If this is true then it can be seen that however slight this cooling increase might be it could be just enough to keep out of trouble if a cooling system was of marginal performance in other respects. Most people agree-that the installation of the pans improve the appearance of the engine compartment. The pans provide a solid-looking closure rather than having the large vacant gap with the straight through view of the ground below.
So much for the possible pros and cons not forgetting, of course, the benefits of the right-hand splash shield when removing the valve chamber cover. Oil from the valve chamber drains neatly down the sloping trough-like shield into a bucket placed at the back just under the half circle cut out for the exhaust pipe. The left side engine pan also serves as a useful trough when draining water. At the back end of the pan there is much more room for a bucket than there is directly under the drain cock where the front axle wish bone is in the way.
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