Reply to "427 side oiler"

Boat engines were designed for durability. They were not standard blocks. Usually they were higher in nickel than car engines. They also often had forged crank, rods, and pistons because boats were expected to put out full powwer for extended periods of time. Just think about a simple 302. In a 210 hp stern drive, you may be running at 4200 rpm at 210 hp for an hour. Most car engines are only part time at high hp and then back down to 30 hp for cruise.

One way to tell if they are side oilers is to look at the side of the block. It should have 5 bolts on each side for the cross bolted main bearings and on one side (Left?) it will have a bulge the full length of the block. This is the oil passage on the "Side" of the engine that feeds the main bearings.