Do I need an FE side oiler?

[rpatton3]

Originally Posted by olddog

The guy was very open about what he put in the engine. When I talk to dozens of people things get muddled in my head. I think he may have said it had titanium valve train, but I'm not sure. The engine was full of high end stuff. Lighten knife edge crank for one.

He limited it to 6700. He said nothing about turning more rpm. It is my observation that from a breathing point of view the Hp would not have peaked until over 7500, but as you point out the valves would likely float before it reached its peak.

They were turning these engines over 7000 back in the 60's with lesser parts than are available today. I know you solid lifter guys think hydraulics are terrible, but hydraulics pump up because the springs cannot close the valves with enough force. Solids buy you a little more rpm on a marginal spring setup, but it does not cure the problem.

There was a movie in the 1960's about stock car racing, Redline 7000, when FE 427 engines had iron crankshafts and were center oilers. I remember that because the FE engines changed to 427 from 406 when the fastback roof came out in mid-year.

Russell