The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop HOW DO YOU PRIME THE PUMP???

My new 350 crate engine will be delivered sometime next week. I have seen some discussion here about an oil prime pump. I notice that GM sells a pump. I assume you must replace the distributor with this rod that you attach like a drill bit and spin the shaft till you see oil somewhere.
My question is can this be done while on a motor stand several days, weeks or months before cranking the engine. I fear that when the engine is installed(3100)I won't be able to fit the pump rod in for the firewall. :confused:

you can prime it now and when your ready to drop it in give er another prime job

For best results, spin right before starting while turning the engine over. Turning the engine over ensures oil passages line up to oil all areas. That being said, there are plenty of engines started w/o any priming whatsoever, such as newer vehicles using crankshaft driven oil pumps. One trick which works if priming cannot be done is to pack the oil pump w/Vaseline, this makes sure the pump sucks oil as soon as the engine turns, the Vaseline melts at a low temp & mixes w/the oil easily. My $.02,,Brian

If you prime the engine on the stand it will fill the oil galleies, the oil will drain back eventually though. After the engine is installed and ready to fire (timing set, fuel to the carb etc) you can disconnect the coil wire and turn the engine over this will again prime the system. If you are buying an engine from a reputable builder it should have been assembled correctly and not have any issues.

Forgot to mention, you should always fill the oil filter prior to installing it, Chevy's pull oil from the filter first rather than the pan.

Tuts is correct prime before installing then turn over before starting,,all should be fine...doc

"Forgot to mention, you should always fill the oil filter prior to installing it, Chevy's pull oil from the filter first rather than the pan."

Thanks guys. The one thing I would have forgotten would be to fill the oil filter.

One thing that was not mentioned was that just spinning the pump with a drill will not properly prime an engine.You need to use a dist. housing (no gear or top portion) to direct the oil to the lifters.You can make one by cutting an old dist. housing so that you use the neck and shaft.Prime with a drill until the oil is at the rockers.If you look down the dist hole on your engine you will see an open hole that will dump the oil back into the pan.

We used to have a tank that we could fill with oil and add air pressure too that we could screw into the oil line of the block. Add pressure and it would feed oil to all locations. Check oil level when done.

GM sells an engine oil primer. From the looks of it, it must work like the distributor. It’s a rod and appears to have a gear at the end. I don't know what it sells for, probably 30.00. I may go ahead and get one.

GTOW69....just noted your post and am getting ready to spin my freshly rebuilt hydraulic lifter 235 over in the morning. Was wondering if your advice was specific to the V8? I don't have any ports in my 235 block and was intending to pre-oil with just a rod with a flattened end. Just don't want to take any chances with oil starvation. Will fill up my full-flow remote oil filter and have installed a supplimentary engine compartment oil pressure gauge so I can monitor the pressure.

Dave

You should be ok Fla54Chevy3100.I was refering to V8's.Spin your rod slowly (always good advice! lol) in the direction of dist. rotation so it doesn't jump off.Watch the rocker shaft for oil and check for leaks(ie rear main,oil plugs,fittings etc)