502 start up-???????????
Thread Starter
HOOK-EM HORNS
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,517
Likes: 841
From: Port Aransas, Texas Tx
St. Jude Donor '08
502 start up-???????????
Finally got to the start point, which is good. Primed it like they said, and yes its full of oil. Could never get any pressure on the gauge (factory with new sending unit) Pulled dist and re-primed. Feel confident that chevy would assemble correct!!
Turn on the elect fuel pump and start it up. It runs but still not getting any pressure on the gauge. It makes a pretty good noise in the valve train. Not a noise like it not getting oil, just really noisy. I was told it might take 10 min to quite down?? I am going to buy a mechanical gage tonight and hook up.
Should I be concerned?? Does it sound normal??
Turn on the elect fuel pump and start it up. It runs but still not getting any pressure on the gauge. It makes a pretty good noise in the valve train. Not a noise like it not getting oil, just really noisy. I was told it might take 10 min to quite down?? I am going to buy a mechanical gage tonight and hook up.
Should I be concerned?? Does it sound normal??
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
When you primed it, were you spinning it clockwise?
It shouldn't be that noisy, the lifters should quite down after 10 seconds. I wouldn't run it again without a known good gauge.
It shouldn't be that noisy, the lifters should quite down after 10 seconds. I wouldn't run it again without a known good gauge.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I'd be a little worried too but you may be too concearned. The gauge may be a bad apple or connected wrong.
The noise may be parts seating.
The gauge is the first step. Then, try it and see if you have pressure. If not, there's a big problem and that has to be sorted out before starting again.
If it works fine, let it run for a few minutes and see if it quiets down. Break ins can be heck on the nerves.
If it doesn't quiet down, pull the valve covers and see if anything is amis. Maybe turn it with no spark with the covers off and watch for all your valves. Check there height and depth.
The noise may be parts seating.
The gauge is the first step. Then, try it and see if you have pressure. If not, there's a big problem and that has to be sorted out before starting again.
If it works fine, let it run for a few minutes and see if it quiets down. Break ins can be heck on the nerves.
If it doesn't quiet down, pull the valve covers and see if anything is amis. Maybe turn it with no spark with the covers off and watch for all your valves. Check there height and depth.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
From: Wellington, New Zealand
After you have primed the pump whip off one of the rocker covers you should see oil up there (coming up the push rods). If you don't see anything don't start it! you may have a pump or pickup problem.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 10
From: Big Pine Key FL
The book was pretty clear...
Oil pressure for 2 minutes and rotate the crank 360 slowly to get oil in the top end.
I did it twice with a mechanical gauge. I agree with those who said don't run it again with out a guage... A water pressure or air pressure gauge will work just to see if you have pressure.
I can here the conversation now...
GM: "did you prime the engine as specified in the installation manual before attemting to start?; What was the oil pressure reading?"
You say "Um...... Well..... It's like this.... See.... There I was minding my own business when..."
GM: "Warranty? what Warranty?"
Oil pressure for 2 minutes and rotate the crank 360 slowly to get oil in the top end.
I did it twice with a mechanical gauge. I agree with those who said don't run it again with out a guage... A water pressure or air pressure gauge will work just to see if you have pressure.
I can here the conversation now...
GM: "did you prime the engine as specified in the installation manual before attemting to start?; What was the oil pressure reading?"
You say "Um...... Well..... It's like this.... See.... There I was minding my own business when..."
GM: "Warranty? what Warranty?"
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
502
recently got the 502 in the 69 up and running,it a gm crate zz502,and although i had a mechanical guage reading good pressure it was a little noisy for the first few minutes.after shutting it down and confirming oil and coolant started it back up and the noise went away within a few minutes.my guage sender is plugged into one of the 2 extra ports on the bottom of the engie,along with the fuel pump shut off switch,let us know what you find when you get the guage installed.I have spent years at a previous job, doing nothing but big block gm warranty engine replacements.its wasnt uncommon to have a brand new engine fail,well worth it to hook up the mechanical guage for peace of mind
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 899
Likes: 1
From: Kansas
What did you use to prime?
Before I start my engines is to pull valve covers off and prime with a drill untill you see oil out of rockers,and I hook up a oil pressure gauge to read psi,that way the motor is lubed and ready to fire,
Maybe somebody forgot to install the rod that goes between the dist and oil pump,check that out!
Before I start my engines is to pull valve covers off and prime with a drill untill you see oil out of rockers,and I hook up a oil pressure gauge to read psi,that way the motor is lubed and ready to fire,
Maybe somebody forgot to install the rod that goes between the dist and oil pump,check that out!
Thread Starter
HOOK-EM HORNS
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,517
Likes: 841
From: Port Aransas, Texas Tx
St. Jude Donor '08
OK, I am trying to get my nerves settled down. I went to the parts store and purchased a cheap gauge. Going to take some strong sleep potion and try to get some sleep.
Install the gauge first thing and go from there. Thanks for the replies....
Install the gauge first thing and go from there. Thanks for the replies....
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 10
From: Big Pine Key FL
Originally Posted by vetteaddic
What did you use to prime?
Before I start my engines is to pull valve covers off and prime with a drill untill you see oil out of rockers,and I hook up a oil pressure gauge to read psi,that way the motor is lubed and ready to fire,
Maybe somebody forgot to install the rod that goes between the dist and oil pump,check that out!
Before I start my engines is to pull valve covers off and prime with a drill untill you see oil out of rockers,and I hook up a oil pressure gauge to read psi,that way the motor is lubed and ready to fire,
Maybe somebody forgot to install the rod that goes between the dist and oil pump,check that out!
I think they have you rotate the crank to get oil to the top end as GenVI 502's have priority main oil flow. (Just a guess)
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Man I can't wait to see what happens when the manual gauge is used. It's like waiting for the next episode of a good soap.
I don't think the issue is the priming unless it just wasn't done wrong. Pulling the valve covers is key to checking the oil at the rockers. If they don't have oil then starting is a BAD idea.
I don't think the issue is the priming unless it just wasn't done wrong. Pulling the valve covers is key to checking the oil at the rockers. If they don't have oil then starting is a BAD idea.
Thread Starter
HOOK-EM HORNS
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,517
Likes: 841
From: Port Aransas, Texas Tx
St. Jude Donor '08
OK, My gut is feeling better. I put the mechanical gauge on this AM, unpluged the dist and fuel pump and turned it over with the starter. 60 pounds in about 3 seconds.
Hooked the dist and fuel pump back up and started. 75 pounds.
Still a little more noisy than I am used to but I guess the roller rockers are more noisy.
Going back out and set the timing and let warm up and set the carb.
Crap I did not sleep at all last night.
It's SHINER BEER tonight. Hell yea I will be driving this thing by Saturday. Going to let run a hour today and then change the oil filter, do the same tomorrow and change the oil and filter and then drive a few hours Saturday and change the oil and filter again. Oil and filters are cheap compared to what I just spent. I will do a video in a few min. Thanks for all the response and I felt your concern. Paul
Hooked the dist and fuel pump back up and started. 75 pounds.
Still a little more noisy than I am used to but I guess the roller rockers are more noisy.
Going back out and set the timing and let warm up and set the carb.
Crap I did not sleep at all last night.
It's SHINER BEER tonight. Hell yea I will be driving this thing by Saturday. Going to let run a hour today and then change the oil filter, do the same tomorrow and change the oil and filter and then drive a few hours Saturday and change the oil and filter again. Oil and filters are cheap compared to what I just spent. I will do a video in a few min. Thanks for all the response and I felt your concern. Paul
Thread Starter
HOOK-EM HORNS
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,517
Likes: 841
From: Port Aransas, Texas Tx
St. Jude Donor '08
It runs fine..........but problems.
The driver side head gasket is leaking antifreeze.????
I called Scoggins Dickey and they said warranty was parts only??????
WTF, I thought it was the whole thing.
They recommended re-tighten to 75 pounds. I have never seen this work before, but letting cool down and will re-torque. They said would send new head gaskets........
If I have to pull the head it gonna get a hell of a lot better gasket than they put in......
BURNING RIGHT NOW.........
It sure sounds nice though..........
The driver side head gasket is leaking antifreeze.????
I called Scoggins Dickey and they said warranty was parts only??????
WTF, I thought it was the whole thing.
They recommended re-tighten to 75 pounds. I have never seen this work before, but letting cool down and will re-torque. They said would send new head gaskets........
If I have to pull the head it gonna get a hell of a lot better gasket than they put in......
BURNING RIGHT NOW.........
It sure sounds nice though..........
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by TEXASRANGER
It runs fine..........but problems.
The driver side head gasket is leaking antifreeze.????
I called Scoggins Dickey and they said warranty was parts only??????
WTF, I thought it was the whole thing.
They recommended re-tighten to 75 pounds. I have never seen this work before, but letting cool down and will re-torque. They said would send new head gaskets........
If I have to pull the head it gonna get a hell of a lot better gasket than they put in......
BURNING RIGHT NOW.........
It sure sounds nice though..........
The driver side head gasket is leaking antifreeze.????
I called Scoggins Dickey and they said warranty was parts only??????
WTF, I thought it was the whole thing.
They recommended re-tighten to 75 pounds. I have never seen this work before, but letting cool down and will re-torque. They said would send new head gaskets........
If I have to pull the head it gonna get a hell of a lot better gasket than they put in......
BURNING RIGHT NOW.........
It sure sounds nice though..........
Did you seal the water jacket ports on the intake gaskets with Hi Temp silicone?
Nobody I have ever dealt with will warranty Labor.......... sorry
I hope the re tourqing the heads will help
Be sure to do it in incriments and in sequence
Good luck
Thread Starter
HOOK-EM HORNS
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,517
Likes: 841
From: Port Aransas, Texas Tx
St. Jude Donor '08
HELL YEA, I am a happy vette camper now.
I was under the car taking pics of the antifreeze coming down and my oldest son says Dad, it coming out on top of the headers???? WTF
His eyes are a lot younger than mine and he see's that it is coming out of the plug where you can hook up your temp sending unit.
The MF from GM had not tightned it. It was hand tight. We tightned it up good and started it back up and HELL YEA, no more leak. What a wild ride. I am down loading a video that I will try to get up later.
Run another hour tomorrow, change oil and filter, put the carpet and seats back in am and take out Saturday. I told my wife she can use the shooting ear muff's..........Yea its loud.
I was under the car taking pics of the antifreeze coming down and my oldest son says Dad, it coming out on top of the headers???? WTF
His eyes are a lot younger than mine and he see's that it is coming out of the plug where you can hook up your temp sending unit.
The MF from GM had not tightned it. It was hand tight. We tightned it up good and started it back up and HELL YEA, no more leak. What a wild ride. I am down loading a video that I will try to get up later.
Run another hour tomorrow, change oil and filter, put the carpet and seats back in am and take out Saturday. I told my wife she can use the shooting ear muff's..........Yea its loud.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Chuck - That set screw has no taper which means it can't just 'tighten.' It has to have a thread lock applied to it to keep it from coming out. Just tightening it like that is a fix but it may very well work it's way back out again.
I would suggest getting a tube of high temp thread lock, and gooping it pretty good. Then install it again to flush or one thread deep. That'll ensure it doesn't come back out.
Glad to hear it wasn't a head gasket.
Has the motor quieted down any?
I would suggest getting a tube of high temp thread lock, and gooping it pretty good. Then install it again to flush or one thread deep. That'll ensure it doesn't come back out.
Glad to hear it wasn't a head gasket.
Has the motor quieted down any?