I searched for the answer and I found that I need to use electric drill to move oil pump drive shaft, but how to do that, when to do that, what rpm to use....I need a detailed answer foor this. The last time I start my freshly rebuild sngine I didnt preoil the engine and all (and I main all rod bearings were dead)...HELP!!!
Sebastian

 

you cant pre-oil with a drill on an lt-1. not with the intake on anyway.alot of guys tell ya to disconnect the optispark harness and crank for awhile. This is obviously not the best way, but its the only answer i could get out of anyone on here, and it seemed to worked decently, still had a few seconds lag.

 

I pre-oiled my engine with the intake removed from the engine using a standard chevrolet small block priming tool and an air driven drill. This seemed to work well for me and I could watch the oil flow through through the lifters and pushrods to be sure that all of them were receiving oil. Although I used this method, I have heard that some guys remove the plug next to the oil filter and usa an external device to pressurize the oil system. While I imagine this method would work as well, I have not personnaly done it this way. Just my 2 cents...

Brian

 

Sebastion, how much did you pay for this new engine? Is it worth taking off the intake? Remove the oil pump stub driveshaft and prive the pump with a tool machined from an old distributor shaft/hsg.. Using a std. 3/8" drill at 1100 rpm would drive the pump at an equivalent to 2200 rpm engine speed. This is more than adequate to prime the engine oiling system. With a gauge hooked up, you can see the pressure raise.

 

the question is can you get a drill back there or are you under the cowl?

 

Remember, the intake is off.

 

If the intake is about 6 inches high and there is about 3 inches on top of that....i guess as long as its not a really big drill you'd be ok.

 

The new book out on "Rebuilding the LT1/LT4" recommends a "pressure oiling canister", attached to either the oil pressure sensor port, or the plugged port right above the oil filter. The book mentions several manufacturers.

 

here's what we're gonna do with mine...keep in mind the engine is already in the car.

we'll pull the coil wire and the fuel pump fuses, then turn the engine over with the starter until it builds adequate pressure. this is obviously not ideal, but it should work.

we use the drill through the distributor hole to the oil pump on our big block pontiac race cars. this is absolutely the preferred method, although i'd wouldn't want to try wedging a drill between the cowl and the oil pump driveshaft hole on the LT1.

 

right angle drill my friends.....

 

Hey Injuneer...........wil Rumair's method work? I'm finishing my 383 and want to know that myself. Thanks.

 

I pre-oil with the manifold removed, mainly to get the oil pump primed.

Once the engine's in the vehicle, I crank it over without fuel or spark until the oil pressure comes up.

 

Using the starter to crank the engine and prime the oil system -- recommend pulling the spark plugs out, allowing the engine to turn over easily without any compression which would cause extra forces on the fresh new rod bearings.