427 Side Oiler Cam Bearing Information

We've discovered that there are a very few marine side oilers out there. Without going into extensive detail, Ford developed the side oiling technique to supply oil directly "from the side of the block" to each individual bearing for racing purposes. This is a benefit to the NASCAR racers of the day, who were spinning their engins at 6000 and 7000 RPM. If a cam bearing went out in the standard 427 design, it could potentially starve oil from the rest of the engine (main bearings being the prime concern). Therefore Ford cast a bulge in the side of the block, bored a hole all the way down the block, and tapped oil passages directly to the main bearings. It was thought, that if an internal problem developed during a race, at least the main bearings would still have oil and this just might allow the engine to survive long enough to still finish the race and win.

Most of the 427 engine blocks are actually cast as side oilers, but they're machined as top oilers, and use the same internal oiling system like all of the 352, 390, 406, and various truck variants of the FE engine series use.

In my opinion, a side oiler won't produce any more power, nor will it last any longer in a marine application, than the tried and true center oiling version. These engines are rare, however, and they're considered "The Royalty" of the Ford 427 line.

If you have a side oiler, you must be on the lookout for special cam bearings if you ever have to rebuild. Regular top oiler cam bearings will fit into a side oiler, but won't last very long. Many engine shops could use the standard top oiler cam bearings just because they will fit, and engine shops who may not be familiar with the particular need of this rare engine might not know about the special cam bearings.

As a reference for you guys out there with the side oilers, and I know probably six of you who have them, copy the following information below and put it in your CC operators manual, so you, or the next guy will have the benefit of these part numbers and identification.





Cam Bearing Information for Side Oiler Blocks
Federal Mogul # 1267M
C5AZ-6A251-A (Ford Assy#)

Looking at the Front of the Block with Block Upside Down
Position #1 2301DRA
C3AZ-6261-A 2 holes open, 10 & 12 Right Angle oil groove to front and also recess brg. .005 to .020 into block from front. Both holes in cam brg used in this application

Position #2 3216DR
C5AZ-6267-A 2 holes open, 9 & 12 both holes in cam brg used in this application. Camshaft must have groove in this bearing journal

Position #3 3217DR
C5AZ-6262-C 1 hole open at 12 and one closed at 9 Only 1 of 2 holes in cam brg used on the application

Position #4 3218DR
C5AZ-6270-A 2 holes open, 1at 12 and 1 at 3 and 1 closed at 6 Only 2 of 3 holes in cam brg used in the application. Camshaft must have groove in the bearing journal.

Position #5 3219DR
C5AZ-6363-A 1 hole open at 12 and 1 hole closed at 9 Only 1 of 2 holes in cam brg used in this application

The Cam Bearings for the regular non-side oiler FE Block are Part Number 1445M, these bearings have 2 holes in front #1 (same as side oiler) and the rest have only one (1) oil hole.

Regards,
Paul

1966 38' Commander
Original top-oiler 427 power