priming new engine

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Jun 7, 2019 | 09:17 AM

68 beginner

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Racer

Joined: Jul 2016

Posts: 287

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priming new engine

just about ready to start a 454 engine that has been rebuilt....do I need to prime the oil thru the engine before I crank?

Jun 7, 2019 | 09:26 AM

540 vette

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From: No Where USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68 beginner

just about ready to start a 454 engine that has been rebuilt....do I need to prime the oil thru the engine before I crank?

Yes you do. I have an old distributor I modified to to that. I use a big drill to spin it. And I wait until I have oil pressure. Then I turn the engine 90 degees and do it again. I do this until I am back on top dead center.

Jun 7, 2019 | 09:32 AM

BLUE1972

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From: Long Island

be sure to use break in oil - not just plain oil...

Jun 7, 2019 | 11:30 AM

derekderek

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From: SW Florida.

A small cap HEI used from Ebay is a good one. Cheap and plentiful. Punch out the pin and remove drive gear. Nice thing about it is the rotor mount point is a small enough diameter to go easily in a drill.

Jun 7, 2019 | 03:37 PM

HeadsU.P.

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2017

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From: Cool Northern Michigan

540 vette is spot on. Prime, rotate, prime rotate. Instead of an old dizzy, Moroso and some others make an oil primer tool, around $23. You can look at Summit for that.

Make sure you buy one with the collar that seals at the intake manifold.

It takes a hefty drill to spin and push that oil around. A corded unit is stronger and will not overheat as likely. It may take several minutes before you see any dribbles at the rockerarms.

Jun 7, 2019 | 04:59 PM

itsforfun

Racer

Joined: Nov 2003

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From: Central KY

I hope you used plenty of Assembly Lube on the lifters, push rods, rockers, cam, etc. As BLUE said, a good breakin oil with at least 1200 PPM of ZINC.

Jun 7, 2019 | 06:37 PM

Lyndwood

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Joined: Apr 2015

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From: Warrington PA

if you can borrow an engine oil pre-luber/ primer from the shop that built you engine that would be the best, my engine shop loans it to anyone who asks for it. you fill it with oil and pressurize it then release the oil into the block via an oil port. it forces oil threw the oil passages in the block the way it will when the engine is running. If you chose to do it with a drill buy a primer tool like the moroso or use an old distributor shaft as stated. If you use a long slotted screwdriver in a drill you will be only lubricating one side of the engine, you need the block off collar to split the oil to all the oil passages.