Do I need an FE side oiler?

[REAL 1]

Todays small blocks will give you tremendous power and damn near that BB roar and rumble for far less $$$ but in MHO just don't look quite right in a 427 engine bay. But thats me.

The FE 427SO is the only "correct" motor for the 427 Cobra except for the 428 Police Interceptor that found it's way into some street cars for a short run in production. These two motors are only indispensible motors for your "Cobra" if you are a die hard in "correctness" and aesthetics like yours truly. These motors are, especially the SO becoming very rare and very expensiive. I think they will definitely increase the value of any build but you will pay for it. A dead nuts NOS 427SO built right today, soup to nuts will be every bit of $35,000.00.

A nice 428 CJ or 390FE will look and sound the part and provide as much if not better torque then the 427SO for much less $$$$.

It sounds like the 428CJ or 390FE are the way to go for you from what I sense from you posts. You can also do a 428 PI for much less then an SO and still be "Cobra correct".