I have read conflicting posts here regarding the flow of oil into the heads using a drill and oil pump primer. If I connect a heavy duty 500 RPM drill to the oil pump and rotate clockwise for 5 minutes, should I see any flow of oil through the pushrods and into the heads? Some have said that the operation of the lifters with the engine running is required to push oil up the pushrods and the primer only does the bottom half. Thanks in advance.

 

Theres a part of the oiling system that flows around the distributor body, if you look at the body theres a groove around the base (above the gear). There are priming tools w/ or w/ out that part. That part feeds the valvetrain oil.

 

Thanks. Can you tell by looking at the tool I have whether it will prime the heads too? Is that what the tiny hole is for?

 

to prime your motor before intial start up, you need to make sure that the primer is clamped down w/ the dist clamp on top of intake. And go to drillin. dependin on type of oil sum will catch prime sooner than others. It could take up to 20 mins on big blocks. But once it comes through rockers I would say for a few mins your good. if all the rockers dont prime than you need to turn motor over 180 degs byhand and drill some more. they should be ready to go. dont forget to line num 1 back up for intial start up

 

Thanks, Eddie79. I didn't clamp the tool down but I made sure it wasn't slipping because I put pressure on the drill and could feel the pump giving some resistance. I did it for 5 minutes and saw absolutely nothing out of the heads, so maybe I don't have the type of priming tool that ex-x-fire referred to in his post above. I can't really tell. Maybe I'll go out there for 20 minutes and see what happens.

 

It should look like this.

 

I just primed my motor last weekend after sitting for years. We used a drill and the priming tool. I can tell you that the oil pressure gauge was moving and showing pressure when we had the drill spinning. Are you sure the tool is mating up with the slotted cam in the motor to turn the pump?

 

Thanks. That's just what I have. I tried priming last night for 20 minutes and got zero oil pressure on the gauge and nothing in the heads. Anyone have an idea of how many man hours it would be for an oil pump and oil pan replacement? I don't have an engine hoist so I guess it goes to the shop. I suspect I damaged the pump when I used the pan to jack it up and change motor mounts. The pan is pushed in about 3/4".

ZZ3 Z28, I am sure the tool mated up with the pump spline. I actually inserted the tool by hand to match it up and then clamped the drill to it. How long did it take for you to see oil pressure? Was it pretty much instantaneous?

 

your oil pump pick-up is normally mounted 3/8" off the oil pan floor if your oil pan floor is pushed up 3/4" you need to replace or repair the pan and probably the pump or pick up







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Thanks. I wasn't sure of the pan's proximity to the pickup, but it would make sense that I'm not getting oil pressure. Too bad the engine has to be lifted to get the pan out. Hopefully I can have it done for less than $500.

 

Yes. Instantly. As soon as the drill was powered the oil pressure gauge started jumping around.

 

Thanks ZZ3. That confirms the pump is either obstructed or broken. The pan is pushed in right where the pickup sits. Thanks, Grumpyvette, for the diagrams and links. That's a lot of information about oil pumps. Hopefully the factory pump for this stock engine will be sufficient. The dealer quoted me $725 parts and labor for a new pan, pickup and pump, so I'm having it towed over there on Monday. It's probably on the high side but I doubt I could save that much going anywhere else and they usually do it right. I am also going to have them troubleshoot some rough idle problems while it's there. Have a great weekend.