I'm about to throw in my 350. Even though it's used, I had it down to block and heads, so I'm under the impression that i have prime the engine. I've heard of some people not even priming their engine put in my same situation. Has anyone out there attempted to start up their engine without first priming it?

 

I'd say the last 20 or so I've built, maybe more, I haven't bothered with it. Ever since I went to a factory assembly plant and noticed that they don't bother either. It's just a feel-good "placebo effect" kind of thing, that makes people do it.

Fill the oil filter up before you put it on. The pump itself is self-priming, as it is completely submerged.

 

So if pistons have already been broken in, it's basically slap it together and I'm good to go?

 

even if it was all new, dont worry about priming it. I didnt prime the last, well, lot that I did. Including the one in my car now.

 

Yeah it's pretty split 50/50 on to prime or not. Basically many guys have done it without (including the factory as mentioned). Others still like to prime. Kind of the same situation as the whole "filling the oil filter before putting it back on during a routine change or letting the pump fill it".

I did see on American HotRod, a motor with the aluminum block running for acouple minutes and even pulling out of the building without any oil pressure (pickup clearance problem) and they pulled it apart and said the bearings were still fine. It had no oil at the heads even.

I just got done priming my new motor tonight, but I was doing it more for checking the gaskets and plugs for leaks while it was out of the car. Which I found 2 NPT leaks.

 

if you bother to put oil in the engine the pump will be primed. i never prime a chevy engine and i put several together. mopar, ford and jeep engines i'd prime