"68" sideoiler block....pros & cons?
 

I've got a chance to pick up a unmolested 1968 side-oiler block with hydraulic lifters. Is this an oddball motor or something worth having?
I believe it's the last year of the sideoiler.
Any input would be appreciated!:)

Sheldon:

Oddball?

No, probably a service block

Worth having?

How much is it?

Bud:JEKYLHYDE :JEKYLHYDE

Bud
It would be under $4K for the short block.
What excatly is a "service" block anyway?:confused:

Hello,
A C8 "service" block is a later replacement block. These blocks were never used in a production line car from the factory. They are also known as "juice" blocks because of the oiling provisions allowing the use of hydraulic cams. These later blocks did have the squared off cylinder liners (stronger) and usually had the external ribs on the sides of the block. I would definately check for core shift and sonic check the bores as these blocks tended to have more casting inaccuracies than the '66 and earlier blocks.
--Mike

I'll take it.

TURK

There is nothing wrong with these blocks,
the cylinders are cut to clear tunnel port valves!! and, mike is correct about the squared off (top) cylinder walls, you can see this by looking in the water jacket with a flash light. This block has been poor mouthed way to much.
Put me in line with Turk.

MAY I, PLEASE, HAVE THIRD SEAT IN LINE ???

I'LL FIND SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT UNTIL THE HOUSE/GARAGE IS BUILT.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY,

BLACKJACK

Okay, here we go,
I base all of the responses I make on any forum on personal experience, not wives tales or hearsay. I have built more 427s than I care to remember and I will explain to you guys what I have found. In 1980 I was helping a friend who was campaining a Thunderbolt in the NHRA super stock class. We bought 2 pallets of C8 blocks (a total of 8) from a large Ford parts dealer on the east coast for the whopping sum of $446 each (try that now!)
Out of the 8 blocks, only 4 where actually standard bore. The others ranges from .002 overbore to .010 overbore. One had such a serious casting flaw in the # 4 main bearing bore I'm suprized Ford even let it out the door. Ford had a coloring and numbering system for the 427 blocks to rate their strength for type of usage. The blocks were sonic checked and inspected, then coded for racing SOHC (blue/green), racing wedge (blue), street(blue/white), marine (blue/yellow), and industrial (blue/red). In the sixties, Holman Moody and the large Nascar and Ford sponsored drag racing teams were allowed to "hand pick" the blocks they wanted to use. The rest of the blocks went into the normal parts disributorship programs. It was not to say it was impossible to get a good racing block over the counter, It was just a little less likely. The further from the sixties we got, the likelyhood of getting a good block over the counter diminished until the eighties when most of the good blocks were completely picked over and all that was left were the blocks with "problems" One of the reason contributing to the discontinuing of the 427 blocks was toward the end of production the rejection rate rose to 30% It was not cost effective to continue.
What this all boils down to is:
In the old days if you got a bum block you might be out 300 to 400 bucks.
Nowadays if you get a bum block you will be out 3000 to 4000 bucks. That hurts. Big time.
It is very likely that this block is fine. The C8 blocks are among the strongest of all 427 blocks. Also, the average Cobra replica will not stress the blocks anywhere near their limits, good or bad.
Just spend some time and/or money and GET IT CHECKED OUT.
My .02
--Mike

Mike is right about the possibility of something being amiss, but I'd also say that if it can be checked out before buying, it would be a really good thing to snag.

All you have to do to use solid lifers is block the oil passages and use main bearings meant for the purpose.

Mine (pictured in my gallery) is that exact block and it was fine. Went to .030 over and had no problems. I also used a solid lifter cam.

Al

BTW There were Hydraulic lifter 427's on the street in 67 68. They came in Galaxies and were rated at 385hp.

Al

Correction 390hp w/10.9:1 compression 68 only

Al