? on priming the oil pump (small block)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 5
From: Brown Summit North Carolina
? on priming the oil pump (small block)
I was recently told by a local car guy that when priming the oil pump to get oil to the mains and rockers arms on an initial start yp after installing a new cam that I jave to use a old distributor and not a simple rod that will spin the pump shaft.
He said that the simple rod would only send oil to the mains and not to the top of the notor.
He said that a old distributor w/o the cam gear would send oil to the top of the motor.
Is this correct? and what is the difference that causes this to happen?
Thanks
David
He said that the simple rod would only send oil to the mains and not to the top of the notor.
He said that a old distributor w/o the cam gear would send oil to the top of the motor.
Is this correct? and what is the difference that causes this to happen?
Thanks
David
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
Where the distributor fits into the block it will direct the oil to the upper end rather than letting it dump down the distributor hole. Many auto parts stores have this tool for loan.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
I was recently told by a local car guy that when priming the oil pump to get oil to the mains and rockers arms on an initial start yp after installing a new cam that I jave to use a old distributor and not a simple rod that will spin the pump shaft.
He said that the simple rod would only send oil to the mains and not to the top of the notor.
He said that a old distributor w/o the cam gear would send oil to the top of the motor.
Is this correct? and what is the difference that causes this to happen?
Thanks
David
He said that the simple rod would only send oil to the mains and not to the top of the notor.
He said that a old distributor w/o the cam gear would send oil to the top of the motor.
Is this correct? and what is the difference that causes this to happen?
Thanks
David
David if you think about it, your 'car guy's statement makes no sense at all. If you are spinning the shaft and the pump is pumping oil, it cannot possibly make any difference WHAT YOU ARE USING TO SPIN THE SHAFT!
Once it's spinning and the pump pressurizes, oil will get through the motor if you do it long enough and fast enough. Also rotate the engine 180 degrees, and re-pressurize it.
Watch your oil pressure guage, or at the very least leave the rocker covers off & don't stop spinning it until there is oil at the top.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Actually using the distributor with the cam gear ground down is better than just a priming rod...I bought the rod, it's a piece of junk..it wobbled all over the place and threw up oil through the hole.
If anyone wants this pos ****, it's theirs...nothing like a distributor to prime the top end...
If anyone wants this pos ****, it's theirs...nothing like a distributor to prime the top end...
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,047
Likes: 675
From: FL
David if you think about it, your 'car guy's statement makes no sense at all. If you are spinning the shaft and the pump is pumping oil, it cannot possibly make any difference WHAT YOU ARE USING TO SPIN THE SHAFT!
Once it's spinning and the pump pressurizes, oil will get through the motor if you do it long enough and fast enough. Also rotate the engine 180 degrees, and re-pressurize it.
Watch your oil pressure guage, or at the very least leave the rocker covers off & don't stop spinning it until there is oil at the top.
Once it's spinning and the pump pressurizes, oil will get through the motor if you do it long enough and fast enough. Also rotate the engine 180 degrees, and re-pressurize it.
Watch your oil pressure guage, or at the very least leave the rocker covers off & don't stop spinning it until there is oil at the top.
You need a priming tool or old distributor shaft. The reason for this is that the priming tool/distributor has the plug that distributes oil to both sides of the system. Look at the tool below:
That part replicates the bottom of the distributor shaft and ensures that oil gets to both lifter galleries. Look right above the cam gear.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 12
From: columbus oh
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 38
From: Cedar,BC
Correct,on a Chev you MUST have the modded old distributor or the tool to get oil pressure.It is also a good idea to give the crank a turn or two with a breaker bar during the priming process so all the passages see oil.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
David if you think about it, your 'car guy's statement makes no sense at all. If you are spinning the shaft and the pump is pumping oil, it cannot possibly make any difference WHAT YOU ARE USING TO SPIN THE SHAFT!
Once it's spinning and the pump pressurizes, oil will get through the motor if you do it long enough and fast enough. Also rotate the engine 180 degrees, and re-pressurize it.
Watch your oil pressure guage, or at the very least leave the rocker covers off & don't stop spinning it until there is oil at the top.
Once it's spinning and the pump pressurizes, oil will get through the motor if you do it long enough and fast enough. Also rotate the engine 180 degrees, and re-pressurize it.
Watch your oil pressure guage, or at the very least leave the rocker covers off & don't stop spinning it until there is oil at the top.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
WRONG.
You need a priming tool or old distributor shaft. The reason for this is that the priming tool/distributor has the plug that distributes oil to both sides of the system. Look at the tool below:
That part replicates the bottom of the distributor shaft and ensures that oil gets to both lifter galleries. Look right above the cam gear.
You need a priming tool or old distributor shaft. The reason for this is that the priming tool/distributor has the plug that distributes oil to both sides of the system. Look at the tool below:
That part replicates the bottom of the distributor shaft and ensures that oil gets to both lifter galleries. Look right above the cam gear.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 5
From: Brown Summit North Carolina
The body of the distributor being part of the oil gallery is what I was not aware of.
I will take this advice.
Thanks
David
