Do I need an FE side oiler?

[DanEC]

I remember reading in Colin Comer's book that early CSX 3000 street cars used 427 center oilers before the 428 blocks. Are you sure any street roadsters actually came with side oilers? Maybe after they switched back to 427s?

[DougD]

Originally Posted by DanEC

I remember reading in Colin Comer's book that early CSX 3000 street cars used 427 center oilers before the 428 blocks. Are you sure any street roadsters actually came with side oilers? Maybe after they switched back to 427s?

Good catch. The old wives' tale that "all 427 Cobras came with a side oiler" is my pick for the most-repeated lie about Cobras.

The truth is that a few more than 300 427 Cobras were made, and that the mix of engines was roughly 1/3 center oilers, 1/3 428 PIs, and 1/3 side oilers. So that 428 or center oiler is just as correct as the hallowed side oiler.

[mdross1]

You need an FE if you really think you need an FE.As far as sound any motor with a given displacement of 427" will give you that sound you crave.Whatever you decide for style of block or ci make certain you have it built by someone with the experience and understands what you want for performance.Good Luck

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by mdross1

As far as sound any motor with a given displacement of 427" will give you that sound you crave.

Not true. The sound of a big block does not come from the size of the space in the cylinders, but rather it comes from the size and shape of the metal of the block. Just like a bell, it's not the size of the "hole" that makes up the underside of the bell, it's the size of the crown, waist, soundbow, etc that makes up the bell itself. I have never heard, or felt the sound, of a small block that was the same as a big block. Now, I firmly believe you can make a SB just as powerful as a BB, but you can never make it sound the same, anymore than you can make a small bell make the same sound as a big bell.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Not true. The sound of a big block does not come from the size of the space in the cylinders, but rather it comes from the size and shape of the metal of the block. Just like a bell, it's not the size of the "hole" that makes up the underside of the bell, it's the size of the crown, waist, soundbow, etc that makes up the bell itself. I have never heard, or felt the sound, of a small block that was the same as a big block. Now, I firmly believe you can make a SB just as powerful as a BB, but you can never make it sound the same, anymore than you can make a small bell make the same sound as a big bell.

Some of the difference in sound between various engine makes results from differences in the firing order. I don't know if a SB Ford has the same firing order as a FE - probably does. And then compression and cam timing and exhaust size/configuration contribute enormously too.

[crASH]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Not true. The sound of a big block does not come from the size of the space in the cylinders, but rather it comes from the size and shape of the metal of the block. Just like a bell, it's not the size of the "hole" that makes up the underside of the bell, it's the size of the crown, waist, soundbow, etc that makes up the bell itself. I have never heard, or felt the sound, of a small block that was the same as a big block. Now, I firmly believe you can make a SB just as powerful as a BB, but you can never make it sound the same, anymore than you can make a small bell make the same sound as a big bell.

This being the case, the sound would be determined by whatever the "bell" is made of, be it iron or aluminum. I've not heard an aluminum BB next to an iron BB, but they should sound vastly different if the bell anology is correct.

[rodneym]

I agree with crASH. A bell is made to resonate. It's size, shape, material and thickness will all have a dramatic effect on the sound it makes, not to mention the hammer or mallet.

Suspend and iron, aluminum, FE, SB, etc. and see how they sound when struck. They will all sound a little different and have resonant frequencies but they probably won't translate well to the [glorius] sound of a BB and the [bothersome] noise of a SB.

I'd say it's the C/R, bore, heads, headers and pipes, even fuel probably, moreso than the mass of metal.

I wish the builders would chime in (no pun intended).

[mdross1]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Not true. The sound of a big block does not come from the size of the space in the cylinders, but rather it comes from the size and shape of the metal of the block. Just like a bell, it's not the size of the "hole" that makes up the underside of the bell, it's the size of the crown, waist, soundbow, etc that makes up the bell itself. I have never heard, or felt the sound, of a small block that was the same as a big block. Now, I firmly believe you can make a SB just as powerful as a BB, but you can never make it sound the same, anymore than you can make a small bell make the same sound as a big bell.

Of course I expected this opinion and we all have them.Most people and I do mean most people will never know the difference.Not discrediting you sir but I have been in this business for more than 50 years have seen and heard most everything internal combustion.You certainly can have a given ci of any block style built to sound near identical,and also have no need to prove it.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by mdross1

Most people and I do mean most people will never know the difference.

... and most people can not tell the difference between filet mignon and properly sauteed dog food. But, just to be clear, are you saying "even with my 50+ years of experience, a properly built SB can still fool me in to believing it to be a BB?"