How long before initial startup after cam swap to prelube engine?

[Goldhawg]

I swapped a cam in my 351W and am converting to TBI and explorer serpentine. I already used my rental pre-luber/oiler to spin up the oil pump last week just to make sure everything is good. Would like to put the dizzy in and be done w/that aspect (have timing chain done correctly, now want to set dizzy in correctly and be done) and not have to keep engine exactly on TDC #1. But I might not do initial startup for another week or so. Is this a step that you need to do right before initial start up or is it something that if you've done once you've got the oil ready to go and it's ok to start anytime later?

Thx!

 

[Broncobowsher]

you have the pump primed, filter filled. There will be oil pressure as soon as you crank the engine. Since all you are worried about is the cam break in and not a fresh engine then no more priming. You may start washing off the break in lube off the cam.

 

[Goldhawg]

Thx much...that's what I kind of expected, and certainly what I was hoping to hear. I'll try to get dizzy in later today. But I'm going a bit easier today since its Easter Sunday!

 

[DirtDonk]

x2 on that. And not really to worry if you somehow manage to lose TDC and need to find it again for some operation or another.
As long as the cam is in and the valvetrain is hooked up, you can turn the engine over by hand and easily re-discover TDC with a finger pushing over an open spark plug hole.
Sure, it's one more thing to do, but it really only takes a few minutes to re-acquire TDC.

Good luck with the start-up. Can't wait to hear how it runs!

Paul