427 NASCAR side oiler?

[Archrms]

I've heard of some 427 side oilers referred to as having "NASCAR" blocks. Are all side oilers the same, or is there a difference between them? If they are different, what are the differences between the two?

[sideoiler10]

I have several books on the 427 center and sideoilers. Nothing is written to indicate that a NASCAR block is any different than the factory FOMOCO 427 blocks. Probably the only differences might take place during the engine builds by the race team, as Holman-Moody did in the 60's. There might have been a few minor tweaks to improve oiling but I have not read of them anywhere. I think most of the teams of that era actually used the same LeMans rods produced by Ford because the entire rotating assembly was made from forged materials and were the best available at the time.

Many very knowledgable people will tell you that the 427 sideoiler is probably the best true high performance engine that was ever mass produced for production cars. Of course the SOHC that followed in late 64 and 65 was probably THE best, but they were outlawed by NASCAR and were limited to drag race teams. But these engines were hand assembled and never "mass" produced.

[Excaliber]

Even the SOHC blocks were standard 'side oiler' blocks. NASCAR outlawed the High Riser heads for the same reason they did the SOHC, to much for the competition! Rare High Riser heads went away in '64 and were replaced with the more common medium risers.

However the side oiler NASCAR CRANKSHAFT was heavily modified and required special rod bearings (and rods I think). The NASCAR side oiler rod bearings are really hard to find, by the way.

[CSX 4027]

LeMans rods due to their narrow .919 pin didn't last. Bearing to narrow
They weighed 850 grams without good bolts.

NASCAR Rods were in fact wider but came in at about 1000 grams ugh..
You could do your morning curls with them.

The crank was no great shakes either.

In todays world and since no-one can see thru your block at a car show, the best 427 FORD builders use custom gun drilled billet cranks cut to accept,,,,
are you ready....

Chevy big block rods with the .990 pin

[Rick Parker]

The "Nascar" blocks were hand picked after selecting the ones with the least core shift, thickest cylinder walls etc and fewest potential casting flaws.

[Archrms]

Rick & Steve,
If I understand you both correctly, there is no difference between a regular and a NASCAR block, except that the NASCAR blocks had heavy duty parts inside. So there should be no way of telling them apart from the outside. They would have to be torn down to see what is inside of them. Is this correct?

[CSX 4027]

Originally Posted by Archrms

Rick & Steve,
If I understand you both correctly, there is no difference between a regular and a NASCAR block, except that the NASCAR blocks had heavy duty parts inside. So there should be no way of telling them apart from the outside. They would have to be torn down to see what is inside of them. Is this correct?

Yes, and you don't want those internals. They were designed to run at a constant high rpm for 500 miles.

[John Martin]

I beg to differ...

[Excaliber]

Well I hear you J. Martin!

But really, I wouldn't want those internals myself, to complicated finding the right parts if you had to rebuild.

NASCAR blocks 'hand picked'. Of course, so were the valves, each rod, each bearing, each keeper and every other component. Pull up a chair and go through BOXES of parts finding the perfect specimen. It's STILL done that way, right down to the tires.

[John Martin]

It's not as bad as this site deplicts , the block uses all the fe bolt on parts .If some how the crank need work, chevy rods can be sized ...
Mine is new old stock w/ edlbrock heads ss valves pro built . Most cobra engines (F.E.SO)don't see much what they were built for.

[CSX 4027]

[quote= Most cobra engines (F.E.SO)don't see much what they were built for.[/QUOTE]

I beg to differ too.
My old 427 did see over 2000 track miles chipped at 7000 and run up there all the time with a toploader and 3.73 gears
It was standard bore/standard stroke/chevy crank/rods

The car with it's new owner is still honkin with over 6000 miles.

The car spent a few years at Shelby LV and was used as a demo-ride car by Gary Patterson who claimed it was the sweetest one he ever drove.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by John Martin

Most cobra engines (F.E.SO)don't see much what they were built for.

Originally Posted by CSX 4027

I beg to differ too.
My old 427 did see over 2000 track miles chipped at 7000 and run up there all the time with a toploader and 3.73 gears
.

I would agree with john. Most cobra 427 SO's, as well as most cobra's, don't see alot of track time. More street time.

Originally Posted by CSX 4027

My old 427 --- spent a few years at Shelby LV and was used as a demo-ride car by Gary Patterson who claimed it was the sweetest one he ever drove.

Yeah, he probably says that about every cobra he drives. Was it late in the evening, lights low, and was he drunk ?

[Rick Parker]

John Martin......I like your avitar.