Priming the oil pump

[blubuckaroo]

If I prime the oil system before installing the motor, How long can it sit before start-up? I want to have the ignition system installed on the stand.

 

[bmc69]

Me..I always prime the motor as close to startup as I can....

 

[Broncobowsher]

Pretty long time. As long as the oil pan is full the pump will stay submerged and hold its prime. the filter will stay full as well.

But a fresh engine prime is really to get all the new parts soaked in oil just before you start it. I like to start the engine withen 10 minutes of priming but in odd conditions I wouldn't wait more then about a month.

I don't like to have the distributer in place while installing an engine. Too easy to damage with a lift chain.

 

[Master Chief]

I second what Bowsher said about the distributor. Quite a few years ago at the base auto hobby shop I watched a guy (not me) break his distributor off while installing an engine.

 

[blubuckaroo]

Good point. All it would take is for some knucklehead to try to push the motor around with the dist.

 

[7elk]

I prime with the motor installed. At build time leave the motor on TDC and then drop in dizzy. Will start for fine tuning after good prime.

 

[Madgyver]

Prime it right before start up is best. Use an old dizzy with the gear knocked off, Chuck on a hand drill (corded not cordless) and crank it counter clockwise til you feel the drill labor.

 

[blakerj10]

If you don't have an old dizzy, I used a 1/4 drive socket and extension on a drill. Taped them up so you don't accidently drop them down in the engine.

My engine has not been started in many years. Would it be a good idea to this again even though the cam has already been broken in? Or waste of time?