What's so special about the Side-Oiler? (great article)
- Thread starter MPTech
- Start date
Kerry & Kathy
Member #007
In 1971 a good friend Don Brewer, who I served several years with in VN, decided to build a 23 T Bucket.
He was newly discharged and I was in San Francisco still aboard the USS Coral Sea.
On weekends I drove to Reedly Ca. near Fresno where Don lived and helped him to build the frame. He sourced a 9” rear end with 2.90 gears from a 57 Ford station wagon and bought a ‘64 427 Side oiler from a 64 ½ Ford fastback for the bargain price of $425.
It was the twin 4bbl model (under) rated at 425 hp and was completely stock when purchased.
A set of 4 into 1 headers was built, the carbs were rebuilt and the distributor was re-curved. Don found a set of used Jr. Fueler slicks cheap that he ran on the street. The T bucket had real magnesium spoke front wheels and no front brakes…
A top loader cast iron 4-spd was installed from a wrecked truck. Total weight was just over 1600 lbs.
Even with the tall gear the car would twist the rectangular tube frame on launch leaving one front tire on the ground and the other 3-4” in the air. In that form the car ran 10.80’s at Raisin City Drag strip in 1972. (A rancher’s old converted private runway.) The car was a handful…but it was an Adrenalin rush with that engine and tire.
It also became a major chick magnet when we cruised Pine Flat Lake.
He was newly discharged and I was in San Francisco still aboard the USS Coral Sea.
On weekends I drove to Reedly Ca. near Fresno where Don lived and helped him to build the frame. He sourced a 9” rear end with 2.90 gears from a 57 Ford station wagon and bought a ‘64 427 Side oiler from a 64 ½ Ford fastback for the bargain price of $425.
It was the twin 4bbl model (under) rated at 425 hp and was completely stock when purchased.
A set of 4 into 1 headers was built, the carbs were rebuilt and the distributor was re-curved. Don found a set of used Jr. Fueler slicks cheap that he ran on the street. The T bucket had real magnesium spoke front wheels and no front brakes…
A top loader cast iron 4-spd was installed from a wrecked truck. Total weight was just over 1600 lbs.
Even with the tall gear the car would twist the rectangular tube frame on launch leaving one front tire on the ground and the other 3-4” in the air. In that form the car ran 10.80’s at Raisin City Drag strip in 1972. (A rancher’s old converted private runway.) The car was a handful…but it was an Adrenalin rush with that engine and tire.
It also became a major chick magnet when we cruised Pine Flat Lake.