Hello all,
I just finished building my motor. Do you use RTV, indian head or something when you install the rear cam freezeout plug? also,....should i prime the oil pump with white lithium grease? thanks

 

Vaseline only in the oil pump for priming. White lithium and grease may plug the oil filter on intial start up. Use a tacky gasket sealer like indian head on the plug.

 

vaseline, really? I got whit lithium that seems pretty smooth....are you sure? thanks

 

I only build engines everyday, and i am only master ASE certified... use white lithium if ya want, i sure as hell wouldnt chance it over a 1 dollar jar of vaseline.

 

i didn't know you were ASE and that you built motors daily....my freind said lithium and he is a mechanic too. just wanted other opinions.....do you pack the whole pump from the pickup part like he said? , or open it and pack the gears? i thought the whole pump. he also said lithium or vaseline is fine.

 

I pull the back cover off the pump (the four bolts) and pack the gears all the way to the top. Make sure there isnt any voids in the vaseline. I never pack the pick up tube, id be affraid of it becoming clogged.

 

ok,...i'll do that...but as far as air bubbles. that'll be tough to be sure that there are no pockets. should i pull the gears out? oh BTW, what is the intake manifold torque pattern, thanks -J

 

Priming the oil pump is easy enough to do, and doesn't put non-engine lube in the mix.

Most any shop manual that covers SBCs will have the torque pattern in it. Do you not have a shop manual?

 

I've been using the net and the "how to rebuild sbc" book....i guess it may be in there,...jsut didn't see it...i built this whole motor by talking to mechanics and the net and that book....bluprinted and all. for instance....i got the head torque pattern off of like wrenchhead .com or something. well whatever, if someone has i pleas post it! thanks

 

It isn't that hard. Start with one of the center bolts. Move to the same bolt on the other side. Then to the other of the center bolts on that side. Then back to the other side. Continue in a circle until you get to the inner of the two bolts on the corner, and do both corner bolts before moving to the next corner. Then redo everything to the final torque.

 

easy there, i never said it was hard. just needed the info...thanks for the info!

 

Basic rule of thumb for toqueing just about anything down is inside to outside.

 

Brain fade while typing. What I intended to say is, it isn't that hard to remember.

 

 

More questions on oil pump priming here. Is it safe to use bearing lube? I got this stuff, federal mugal bearing lube, its like a green sticky honey, stuff worked great for my crank and cylinder bores. Do you apply this around the pick up tube or where? Thanks.

 

I would be afriad of it's properties. It may be too harsh and may not be the same chemical base as oil and other engine assemble lubes. I would still say white lithium or vaseline. definately something. (this is based on who i've talked to lately)

 

Just curious since this stuff states it dissolves in oil. To be on the safe side since I havn't put my oil pan on, what is the proper way to install a oil pump? Treat my like a fool. From putting it on, pick up tube and priming. Do not want to get this wrong, thanks.

 

well, if it dissolves in oil,...then it's probably okay,...however, why not just use vaseline? As far as the oil pump, install the oil pump driveshaft w/a metal collar if it doesn't have one (sometimes they have crappy plasitic ones). Then, install the pump with one nut torqued to the manufacturer's spec. there areen't any gaskets or anything..I think you torque it to about 65-70 ft lbs (but check online). Then with modeling clay, clearance the pickup to the oil pan, to ensure that it's not touching the pan or that it's not too far away from the bottom. you can bend the pickup tube to make it fit if it's just a little off. If it's the same pump as before, it should be okay. That's it. then just install the pan.

 

Only torque down one nut?

Yea, mine has a crappy plastic piece that broke when takign it out.

 

there is only one nut, and two stubs....does yours have more,...mine is an older block.

 

Two on mine I believe.

 

hmmn....i guess L98's have 2 then? are you sure????/ well it may not be 65-70 ft/lbs then....probably less...i don't know,...good luck.