Problem With Priming The Engine With Oil
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Problem With Priming The Engine With Oil
I have just about finished assembling my engine. I wanted to ensure I was getting oil flowing through the push rods and to also pump up the lifters to set the lash (hdy lifters). I made up an oil priming tool and spun the oil pump for several minutes several times. I am getting a trickle of oil coming out of the rockers on the odd side but not getting anything from the even side. The lifters on the even side have not pumped up either. Is there something wrong or will they pump up after firing the engine? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Stan:
That may be the issue. I made one out of a piece of steel to go into the slot of the oli pump shaft. I used a steel sleeve to keep it on the shaft. I looked at the Mr. Gasket primer online and that is essentailly what they sell. I would have purchased one, but no one sells them locally and I wanted to button up the engine without waiting a couple of days to order one.
I rotated the engine several times thinking that would help.
Is if safe to say that things are normal? Should I drop in the distributor and then crank it over with the starter (when it arrives)? Or will I have to crank with the starter to long and cause any damage? Should I just order in priming tool that seals the oil passage?
That may be the issue. I made one out of a piece of steel to go into the slot of the oli pump shaft. I used a steel sleeve to keep it on the shaft. I looked at the Mr. Gasket primer online and that is essentailly what they sell. I would have purchased one, but no one sells them locally and I wanted to button up the engine without waiting a couple of days to order one.
I rotated the engine several times thinking that would help.
Is if safe to say that things are normal? Should I drop in the distributor and then crank it over with the starter (when it arrives)? Or will I have to crank with the starter to long and cause any damage? Should I just order in priming tool that seals the oil passage?
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 421
Likes: 2
From: Long Grove, IL
Originally Posted by joe73vette
You can make a priming tool out of an old distributor - remove all the top stuff and grind off the gear teeth. Joe
There is an article in the March edition of Corvette Fever on pages 66 and 67 that explains how to turn a distributor into a priming tool. Nothing more than Joe73 says but there are a few pictures to go along with the words.
Regards,
Jay
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mandm1200
Stan:
That may be the issue. I made one out of a piece of steel to go into the slot of the oli pump shaft. I used a steel sleeve to keep it on the shaft. I looked at the Mr. Gasket primer online and that is essentailly what they sell. I would have purchased one, but no one sells them locally and I wanted to button up the engine without waiting a couple of days to order one.
I rotated the engine several times thinking that would help.
Is if safe to say that things are normal? Should I drop in the distributor and then crank it over with the starter (when it arrives)? Or will I have to crank with the starter to long and cause any damage? Should I just order in priming tool that seals the oil passage?
That may be the issue. I made one out of a piece of steel to go into the slot of the oli pump shaft. I used a steel sleeve to keep it on the shaft. I looked at the Mr. Gasket primer online and that is essentailly what they sell. I would have purchased one, but no one sells them locally and I wanted to button up the engine without waiting a couple of days to order one.
I rotated the engine several times thinking that would help.
Is if safe to say that things are normal? Should I drop in the distributor and then crank it over with the starter (when it arrives)? Or will I have to crank with the starter to long and cause any damage? Should I just order in priming tool that seals the oil passage?
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Boise,Idaho,U.S.A.
Go to A salvage yard buy an old distributor if you dont have one. There is A pin that holds the gear on "just remove the pin" slide the gear off. then take the guts out of the upper portion of the distributor. Piece of cake!! This will get oil pumping into both sides for you. This is what I just did on my 350 for my 70 SWB truck about A month ago and it worked great. You do need the distributor housing to block off that oil passage when priming. 
Gary
Gary
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
I called a couple of slavage yards. The ones that had an old distributor want $40. Guess I'll give ebay a shot, if not I'll have to order in the priming tool. Autozone shows the loan them, but the only Autozone in my area does not have one (and most of the other tools they list on the web site).
