What is a 'side oiler'?

[dingocooke]

Occasionally read articles mentioning cobras fitted with 427 'side oiler', wondered if somebody could explain please?
Ta!
Steve:thumb:

[Grease Monkey]

Side Oiler:

A Ford big block V-8 having a main oil gallery relocated on the low left side of the block.

As blagged from http://www.autoglossary.com/term_S.html

[FatBoy]

The Side-Oiler was developed primarily for the GT40 program. The oiling system was modified to deliver oild under pressure to the mains and big-ends to aid durability in endurance racing. The "standard" 427, commonly refered to as either "Top-Oiler" or "Centre-Oiler" had a central oil gallery above the camshaft which fed oil under pressure to the camshaft and then to the crank.
The vast majority of original 427 Cobras were fitted with the Centre-Oiler or even the "cooking" 428. However, many have subsequently had Side-Oilers fitted.

Incedentally, I have an original Side-Oiler stripped and ready for rebuilding with standard bores and crank that I was planning to fit into a Kirkham Cobra. However, I'm now considering building a GT40 instead, for which I would need a small block, preferably a 302. Therefore, I may be looking to swap my rare and exotic 427 S/O for a boring and mundane 302...any offers ?

Paul

[BenBaron]

you having a laff Paul? them there S/O are worth a fortune! you must be looking or a special 302 for that sort of swap....., how about swapping for a 351w block?

[BenBaron]

In fact if you wanna sell it for some pennies, fire an email to ben@brokerpartners.co.uk with the pall park your looking for, Im not promising but if you make it irresistable then I may be intrested....

cheers
Ben

[dingocooke]

Thanks for the info guys; I don't feel quite so thick now!!


Steve:thumb:

[wazovolan]

the price for a side oiler is bigger than for a center oiler.

[wazovolan]

You can get information from the book: How to rebuild Big Block Ford Engines, by Steeve Christ, from HP BOOKS by the Berkley Publishing Group

[FatBoy]

Originally Posted by wazovolan

the price for a side oiler is bigger than for a center oiler.

You are right on this point. The Side-Oilers are far, far rarer and more "exotic" than the Centre-Oiler and therefore command a much higher value. :thumb: