First time engine priming please help

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Jul 23, 2017 | 08:31 PM

#21

Ryan Menzies

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2016

Posts: 235

Likes: 28

From: Fort McMurray Alberta

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Here's my tool. Worked well in my BBC and another SBC here.

Jul 24, 2017 | 04:55 PM

#22

Neil B

Drifting

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 1,565

Likes: 111

And once you have the proper tool with collar, make sure you use a GOOD drill, or you'll burn it up. It's still going to take several minutes to prime the top end and the drill will be working against some oil pressure.

Last edited by Neil B; Jul 24, 2017 at 04:55 PM.

Jul 24, 2017 | 05:10 PM

#23

JasonAndrew

Safety Car

Joined: Mar 2017

Posts: 3,651

Likes: 274

Remove the distributor..

Install an oil pressure gauge, if not equipped. ANY rebuilt SBC should have an oil pressure gauge. (if not equipped).

Run your primer, and your gauge will show pressure. That's all I did.

This should be trivial.

Jul 24, 2017 | 05:47 PM

#24

jb78L-82

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 7,445

Likes: 971

From: Tennessee/Rhode Island

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonAndrew

Yup this what I did....builder of the bottom end came to my house and primed through the distributor opening and I watched the guage in the car with the ignition in the on position. The gauge showed 40lbs pressure within 15 seconds of the drill operating......

Jul 24, 2017 | 06:05 PM

#25

george2066

Instructor

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 223

Likes: 20

From: jim thorpe pa

spin the crank

turn the crank as you prime, plugs out, get a helper, mechanical pressure gauge to see oil pressure, use the port on top by distributor so you can see the gauge. hmm rebuilt engine with old pump(not me, no way). (missed gasket on oil pickup? sucking air) I would not fire it until I see good pressure for 10 to 30 seconds

Jul 24, 2017 | 07:02 PM

#26

Neil B

Drifting

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 1,565

Likes: 111

Quote:

Originally Posted by george2066

turn the crank as you prime

^^This. Keep priming until you see oil coming out of ALL of the pushrods. You have to turn the crank in order to oil the valvetrain on both cylinder banks.

Jul 24, 2017 | 10:27 PM

#27

427Hotrod

Race Director

Joined: Jan 2000

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From: Corsicana, Tx

2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner

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Quote:

Originally Posted by george2066

There's no gasket used between the pump and cap and the pickup is pressed into the housing...no gasket to worry about.

Pumps are cheap...but they are pretty much bulletproof unless it sucks something into it. No part is lubed better for sure. An original housing is probably stouter than most replacements.

JIM

Jul 24, 2017 | 10:51 PM

#28

Tim 1973

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2013

Posts: 1,216

Likes: 66

From: Killeen Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardmansonfan

that im aware of my rebuilder did not change the pump being it was working before (i never changed my pump at all) maybe air lock ??

I always put a new pump on when rebuilding a engine. IMO its the smart thing to do.

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Jul 25, 2017 | 04:39 PM

#29

Khibbs

Instructor

Joined: Oct 2016

Posts: 150

Likes: 25

From: Acton MA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Menzies

Attachment 48116920

Here's my tool. Worked well in my BBC and another SBC here.

This is what I've used and I pulled a valve cover to verify that oil was coming up the and lubricating the rockers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oil-Pump-Pri...kAAOSwmLlX6cr8

Sep 21, 2017 | 06:47 PM

#30

hardmansonfan

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jun 2014

Posts: 126

Likes: 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khibbs

This is what I've used and I pulled a valve cover to verify that oil was coming up the and lubricating the rockers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oil-Pump-Pri...kAAOSwmLlX6cr8

Hey guys i finally got it primed & started i was spinning the tool the wrong way (dummy) i also was spinning the crank shaft by hand while priming the engine (everything was easy) thanks everone as promised i posted the startup videos on youtube (3 videos) here is the link to the 1st one....