Hydraulic Lifter 427 S/O

A Snake · #1 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 01:28 AM

I'm hoping George or other 427 expert will chime in on this.

I think I've spotted something interesting....and learned a new trick for a quick ID of a 68 Hydraulic lifter block.

With heads on and intake off, every FE block has "352" cast into the inner wall above the lifter gallery. All except the Hydraulic lifter block which has 427 cast into it. I've seen it twice now. Once on my block and once on a block belonging to someone we all know well, sitting in an engine shop.

Across the aisle in the shop was a solid lifter S/O block and it had the requisite and expected 352 cast into it.

Is this just coincidence or have others seen this oddity too? If it isn't coincidence or just an oddity, it sure is a quick way to spot a hydraulic lifter 427 block along with the raised oil passage down the center of the valley.

Al

RICK LAKE · #2 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 05:45 AM

A Snake Hi Al I maybe wrong but I thought you could make any 427 a hydrolic lifter motor if you pulled the plug out of the oil gallerys The different between the SO and center oiler was the oil on the SO feed the bottom end first, being the crank and oil was sent around the cam to the top end. The center oiler was reversed. Thecam area was first to get oil and went down through the main webbing to the crank. My wording may be a little off but this is the conscept. Wait for the pro's to answer. Rick Lake

ted · #3 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 07:49 AM

My '67 and earlier Sideoilers are not drilled for hydraulic lifters. There are no plugs that can be pulled or changed that would make it work in any shape, form, or fashion with hydraulics. The block would have to be drilled from end to end and through both banks of lifter galleries to make it hydraulic lifter capable.

Because I favor solid lifter cams anyhow, I block the two oil galleries for the oil going to the lifters in hydraulic lifter blocks just to increase the oil flow to the other needed areas. I also check that the upper angled oil gallery at the front of the block does not intersect the hydraulic lifter bank on the passenger side of the block as it may have to be blocked here also. If you overlook this one, then oil is still feeding the passenger side lifter bank regardless of blocking off both galleries at the back of the block. Blocking the lifter oil galleries has been the difference between needing a high volume pump versus a stock volume one depending upon the bearing clearances.

My Shelby block was another story. The Shelby design for the oil galleries has been changed such that the lifter oil galleries cannot be blocked without stopping the supply of oil to the topend (rockers). I'm using Crane roller lifters that were supplied for my Fe that are also apparently designed to use with Ford engines supplying oil to the topend through the pushrods (SBF, 385 series). Normally this would not be a problem for a block that was not supplying oil to the lifters but on the Shelby block I ran into a problem; too much oil pressure was being bled from the lifters. Seeing as how I couldn't block the oil galleries, I modiified the lifters so that oil could not pass through them. Problem fixed!

bmalone · #4 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 09:12 AM

Hey Al, thanks for the interesting info.

Do not think you can make a hydraulic out of a pre-'68 block.

For CO, first main bearing is oiled, then routed to cam and top-end. For SO, all mains oiled first.

mr0077 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 09:45 AM

Al, I just had the manifold off my 68 S/O, and noticed the "427" cast in the (driver's side?) block above the cam...interesting bit of info.

A Snake · #6 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 01:34 PM

I may be nuts, but if I remember right, the solid lifter blocks are not only not drilled for hydraulics, they don't have the oil galley cast into the center of the valley. Straighten me out if I'm off here. I haven't seen the inside of a solid lifter block in a long time.

Al

ENTDOC · #7 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 07:33 AM

The only 427 blocks capable of using hydraulic lifters are C-8 blocks(1968)You can spot these by looking for the oil galleries in the valley above the cam and beside the lifter bores. chuck

Cracker · #8 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 03:29 PM

I have a "427" cast S/O and I don't think it has provisions for the Hydraulic lifters.

Cracker

Ken Oikawa · #9 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 05:10 PM

I have 66 427 SO Service block which has provision for hydraulic lifters.
I'm using C8AX -C Ford cam.

ENTDOC · #10 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 06:55 PM

Ken, what is the ID code on that motor? chuck

mr0077 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 07:42 PM

ENTDOC, I thought I'd written it down, but I can't find the casting number...my motor has no stamped numbers and no engine tag, but I'm guessing it is a 1968 service block, casting no. C8AZ (-6010-G?).



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