Hmmm... too true regarding metalink availability (of course having metalink availability doesn't mean that you can actually find what you're looking for on metalink-- or if you did find it once that you'll ever find it again). Fortunately (in this case) Google to the rescue.

WRT the OP, I guess I'd try compiling DBD::Oracle against either the 8.1.7 or 7.3.4 client and then try fauria's suggestion.