jsdonofrio
"I have Cobra csx 3196. How can I find out if my car came with a side oiler engine, or a center oiler?"
This issue has been discussed previously on this forum. There is no definitive source for this info, but the extensive amount of research that went into SAAC's Registry gives some clues. 427 Cobras came with either 427 center oilers, 428 PIs, or 427 side oilers, roughly 100-150 of each of the three types. Ford provided the engines to Shelby, and 427s were never plentiful. Shelby used what Ford sent them. In the fall of '64, into early '65, there were no side oilers available as they were not produced in quantity yet. That's why the early group of cars had center oilers. The 428s were installed for two reasons - one, they were cheaper, and two, they were available. Late in production, when Shelby decided to install 427s again, the side oiler 427s were used because that was what Ford was building at the time.
This thread gives more info from an expert:
how many 427 cars had 427 ci engines
From this info, it looks like your car likely had a center oiler (or maybe a 428?) from day 1. Nedsel is the one who would know or could make the best informed guess.