I have an original splash pan for my '51 M-3. Now should I cut it to clear the front sump of the oil pan on the 302 or should I leave it intact and save it for someone else to use? Out of my three trucks only one had it. I guess if a PO took it off they never bothered to put it back on.

 

In all the F's that I've seen over the past 5 years or so I've only seen one. It was in a scrap yard.

 

Nathan,

Do you really want to put it back on? If you do, go for it. If it doesn't really mean that much to you, save it or post it in the classifieds or on eBay. If it isn't something you are intent on installing, it might be a real find for another Ford trucker.

 

Nathan,

I'm not sure if you are refering to the radiator splash pan than goes just in front of the radiator or not, but I cut about two inches off of mine since I was using the six cylinder radiator support holes. I like having it since it also serves as a scoop to force air through the radiator core which should help cooling. I also have a stock 49 F-1 which does not have a spash pan. I guess it was deleted at some point in the past by a PO.

Vern

 

I figured it was pretty rare to have one. I think I might put it on to be different than everyone else. It's not in perfect shape but it's fixable. After it's been cut I can drain oil without removing it (dual sump oil pan). It should keep water and mud from being splashed on to the front of the engine.
Here's a picture of it:

Here's another thing that seems to disappear on these trucks. The fender splash guards:

My first truck was missing both, second truck had driver side and third truck had the passenger side.