[malgyver]

I'm trying so hard to be nice! But really, I am quite impressed by your determination.

The fact that nobody has responded to your posts is also impressive. There must be some sort of groupthink going on...and thats why I had to chime in with something. However, it has not seemed to kickstart the supportive discussion that this board is generally known for (along with some tough love from time to time, case in point...)

The windage tray issue is quite interesting, I must admit. I would defer to the real engine experts here for insight.

How did your oil pump pickup look? The belt issue tends to harm the motor when enough bits clog the flow of oil through the pickup. Was yours clean?