The blocks have the oil hole from the camshaft to the mains right down the middle of the block. This is weak erea of the bloc
Excaliber,
I'm aware of the oil hole on the top of the cam. The weak area Keith points out is the cam to the mains. Even SO's crack here. I just sold a CO to an engine builder b/c his customers SO cracked in number 4 main to cam. I also passed on a so that cracked in that very spot 10 years ago. I have heard quite a few guys on the FE forum with SO's that cracked in the same place. All the blocks share this weakness. The little hump in the top whether drilled or not does not change the strength

It looks to me, from the pictures above, the top oiler has several 'extra' oil galley hole's from the cam bearings which the side oiler does not. Looks like the side oiler has ONE hole.

I hope Keith will way in and give us some clairification on exactly what he was saying.

Well for one thing the blocks you pictured are TO and SO SOLID lifter blocks. The hydraulic blocks 68 up have 2 galleries drilled for the lifters. They run the entire length of the block. If you think the hole from the top of the cam to the common gallery on the TO is the problem you are mistaken. They don't crack there. They crack at the common weak spot cam to main. This is getting really old.......................

Well it is obvious your beating a dead horse. The side oiler is superior to the top oiler, stick a fork in it! :) SOHC block used the side oiler and could turn 9000 rpm. Maybe a top oiler would also withstand 9000 rpm? Maybe, maybe not. THAT is the question!

How many people do you know who have SOHC's? If you really want to learn about FE's. Go to the FE forum. There quite a few people running those engines now. None of which turn 9000RPM's. I have been on that site for 10 years and have learned quite a bit. You seem to be resistant to learning though. Try to open your mind a bit. I have learned a lot on the FE forum and it contradicts a lot of what you THINK is true. Or bury your head in the sand and just think the SO is the most superior engine ever built.

...lost cause, not going to argue with this pin head...

Take it easy boy's. No need to get your panties in a bunch. We all know that FEs just blow up....just get over it! read my sig line.

Sorry JAMO just realing these goofballs in a bit. they annoy me.:mad:

McVette

Nice rebuttle excaliber. Your lack of insight and failure to understand fundamentals regarding mechanics and poor debate skills is now clear. Whose the pin head now?
By the wat I'm done arguing you are a lost cause.

Gee, that's a nice little debate you guys got going on there.. but, you guys do agree that an FE, or just about any other engine will not appreciate in time..right?

FE's in general or specific FE's in particular? 352's are unlikely to increase in value in this lifetime or the next! 427's will, but it's complicated and there is no easy "yes" or "no" answer to the question.

Top oilers are not going to carry there value as well as side oilers, thats a fact. Among side oilers, DATE CODED 1965-66 blocks will carry more value than say a later model service block. A NOS block will carry more value than a sleeved block, repaired block vs stock, etc.

Some specific FE blocks are certainly being horded by engine builders. THEY expect to turn a nice profit on these engines building them for customers who want a period correct FE. And are willing to pay for it! The professional builder has the contacts, reputation and authority to market the engines with some success. It is unlikely you or I share these same traits. :LOL:

The real value of a side oiler is when it comes with the CAR! I think you would have a tough time trying to sell the engine by itself and get a reasonable price. Let alone a 'profit'. But just try to BUY one, just try! There hard to find and will cost you a bunch!

You can bet on one thing. Ford didn't redesign the top oiler into a side oiler just for 'bragging rights'. They are far more intelligent than that. :JEKYLHYDE

Why was the sideoiler created?

...so everyone could argue 40 years later about stupid details:D


one of the schools of thought.. (and I'm sure, given the board climate these days, I'll get roasted over this) is that it was Ford's answer to Chevy's up and coming new "Rat" big block.. I'm sure there are other answers like... last big hurrah for the venerable FE, to kick Enzo's arse a little more, to further ford's competitive edge in racing..

I sure hope that when I get my Cobra built I don't feel the overwhelming urge to spend all my time on here arguing. Do any of you guys actually get out and drive your cars? :LOL:

No joke.. and I thought all the fighting over on SVTPerformance.com was bad. LOL :LOL:

So... I guess it's safe to say that aftermarket block side oilers are stronger that top oilers??:D

Oh, NG .. I see Hawkrod got you straight over on fordfe.com about the Side oiler being stronger than a top oiler. NONE of us know everything. I didn't know that one either..

My 2 cents: I've seen agriculture 427s without cross bolt mains. (Farm Combine motors) I have spun cammers at 9000 rpm with no problems. Dove manufacturing tells me they are spinning FEs at 9000 rpm with no problems. They are turning the crank journals down & running Chevy rods. If I recall correctly they said Chevy off the shelf "500" rods. I thought that was interesting.
Regards,

Yep, Scat and others are using BBC rods and accompanying crank journals for their FE stuff. I'm sure it helps to keep costs down, a good thing actually.

Yes sir, them short stroke FEs can really spin. Give me a long crank arm and a boat load of torue in my tea though..:)

That's a good point, and often one that is subtly forgotten during these "debates." I have the SCAT 4.125 stroker crank in my FE, along with the Chevy H-Rods. Coupled with the traditional FE oil mods, and other after-market parts, this starts taking our "new-fangled" FE strokers (even with the old blocks) farther and farther away from the original FEs. You even see that on threads here where you have page after page arguing Ford bearing clearances, Ford-spec oil pressure, and the like and then somebody remembers "Oh, BTW I have an after-market crank, Chevy rods, Wiseco pistons...." :rolleyes: I'm sitting here trying to think what Ford parts I have on my Ford block and I'm having a tough time coming up with one. I'm sure I've got something ... I just can't think what it is. Honestly, I might very well have no Ford parts on my FE other than the block.

I never thought that much about it but your right. My block is also a Genesis so I don't think there is anything Ford in or on my FE!
Regards,

yup ... my old CSX#3147 had a center oiler also. :cool: I can't believe all the rumor mill crap out there :JEKYLHYDE