Well I'm about to start my freshly rebuilt LS1 for the first time. So I decided to pull the fuel pump fuse and prime the oil pump by turning the motor over. I'm not getting anything on the gage, the needle stays at zero after ten seconds of cranking. So does the starter turn over too slow to build up proper pressure?

I installed a new barbell restrictor, new camshaft retainer plate, brand new OEM oil pump and pickup with the new blue O-ring. I'm just wondering if the pump isn't primed which is taking it a minute to build up pressure? The gage appears to work, I have the single tan and white wire hooked up to the LS1 oil pressure sensor.

Thoughts? Maybe I should just start it and see what happens...

 

I tried priming my eng the same way, even after removing the plugs.I still couldn't get any pressure.This was with a mechanical gauge as well.I ended up buying a 2 gal garden sprayer & adapting it so I could do prime the eng, using my compressor to pressurize the oil.Took about 40-50 sec til I saw 50psi on the gauge.Cranked the eng & instant pressure on the gauge.

The cranking method doesn't always work, I think the starter spins too slow.

 

LS1 oil pump is not self priming. You need to prelube the engine with an external oiling priming system. There is a block plug behind the alternator where you tap in to the oiling system. Other options are to fill it at the oil filter through the oil cooler port (if equipped on your engine), or the oil sender hole.

 

FYI - I filled at the oil filter by temporarily installing a Corvette oil cooler port. Here is a brief explanation of what I did.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...ml#post6012668

 

Good information! Well I got it primed and it has strong oil pressure. I removed the spark plugs and turned it over, faster this time. My gage popped up to 45psi and was climbing. So I shut it off... Removed the drivers side valve cover to verify and it was pushing oil out of the rockers. My Hawks fuel lines and regulator were shipped today and will be delivered tomorrow. So hopefully I'll have a start up vid to post...

Gonna be loud with open headers and that Comp LSR cam. lol...

 

Great! Little good luck feels good now and then, huh!

 

Yeah no kidding! With the amount of money and time I have in this swap, a little good luck goes a long way. Hopefully that will continue tomorrow when I fire it up... Lol

 

This seems the best way to go:

http://ls1tech.com/forums/tools-fabr...nder-20-a.html

Look at page 2 too.

You're using a small drill driven pump from harbor freight to pump oil from a jug, through the pump, and into the engine via the oil filters output port.

This pic illustrates it better. A remote filter is used in the pic but is not necessary, but a nice addition.