The term "side oiler" has been used so long to denote and specify a particular engine (the 427 SO) it has become synonomous to MOST "gear heads" to CLEARLY mean the old IRON FE 427 Side Oiling engines of yester year. As opposed to the CENTER OILER of the same vintage. There is a BIG difference in these TWO motors when used in a racing application. The SO being FAR superior to the CO.
EVEN IF the new Alum "side oilers" were exact copies of the iron blocks (AND THEY ARE NOT) to carelessly use the expression "side oiler" will inevitably lead to confusion on the matter.
Therefore, I WOULD NOT call a new Alloy 427 block a "side oiler" WITHOUT qualification so as NOT to confuse it with the legendary IRON FE block of old.
So the new Alloy 427
oil galleries are on the "side". The whole "lay out" and "plumbing" of these new "side
oil" galleries are FAR superior to what the IRON FE's had!
So when you say "side oiler" to me, the FIRST thing that will pop into MY mind will be an IRON FE. So "qualify" your statement first please! I would hate to think your trying to MIS LEAD me into believing you have the "real deal" under your hood, when in fact you have the "new and improved" version. Like the difference between a 1966 CSX Cobra and a 2002 CSX Cobra. Same thing,,,,,but not "exactly" the same thing!
Ernie