reasons for a side oiler Vs a center oiler

[olddog]

So it would seem the competition engines had different intake, heads, etc. and
they came in both center oiler and side oiler blocks. Likewise the street engines
came in both center and side oiler blocks. That would in my mind, be 4 very different
427 engines and of course to 428 making a 5th. Does that sound correct?

[DougD]

Originally Posted by olddog

So it would seem the competition engines had different intake, heads, etc. and
they came in both center oiler and side oiler blocks. Likewise the street engines
came in both center and side oiler blocks. That would in my mind, be 4 very different
427 engines and of course to 428 making a 5th. Does that sound correct?

The street cars had three distinct blocks. CO, SO and 428PI.

Once you get into the realm of comp cars, the options multiply. Heads came in low riser, medium riser, high riser, tunnel port, cast iron, aluminum, etc. Intakes held one Holley or two or maybe four Webers. I imagine Shelby would have built you anything you had the money to pay for.

The comp cars likely got side oiler blocks as soon as they were available.

[REAL 1]

I stand corrected. It took me some time going through all my books from many different authors including the Registry and many different magizine articles in a compendium book on Cobras and all to their discredit do not even mention this detail as to center oiler vs. sideoiler with regard to the 427. The only book that discussed the fact that the 427s came in two varieties in the Cobra was Rinsey Mills book on The Essential AC Cobra other then the Colin Comer book.

Very interesting detail.

It is clear that all Comp and SC's had the side oiler. My understanding is that the Comp 427 had high rise aluminum heads and the SC had the medium rise cast iron heads.