I am putting a freshly rebuilt motor back in my Formula and wanted to know the proper way to prime the pump prior to putting the intake back on.

I have used the search function already.

Specifically, I want to know if SBC primers work OK, since there is nothing at the top of the priming shaft to prevent side loading on the shaft (and thus on the oil pump). Since there is normally a hole in the intake manifold where the distributor is located on other small blocks, the priming tool sleeve usually rests against this hole to prevent side loading.

Comments? Oh, I also plan on priming the engine after it is installed by pulling the injector fuses and coil wire prior to cranking it over.

 

Just undo the opti harness plug, much easier. Without that plugged, the injectors and coil wont fire.

 

Hmm.. don't know what happened. I answered this post a few minutes ago..

I used the SBC primer and it worked fine.

Also, pulling the PCM BAT fuse will disable the computer. No coil or injectors will fire.

 

I'm most worried about side loading of the primer tool while using the drill since there will be nothing to prevent the upper part of shaft from wobbling.

Spinner, I was going to prime it with the tool AND prime it again by cranking with the opti and injectors disabled. Can't hurt to do both.

 

I don't remember wobbling being an issue. There is a collar that fits down by the cam that keeps things pretty straight. Unless you are just careless or can't hold a drill straight, I don't see there being a problem.

 

How does this priming work ?
I assume the shaft of the tool connects to the driveshaft of the oilpump and it is tehn spun around ?

I wanted to spotweld the oilpump driveshaft to the pump for safety, is this possible and still have it primed using a prime tool ?

 

I think you mean spotweld the pickup tube, not the driveshaft.

 

I used the SBC primer that has an adjustable color , allowed me to move the color down into the lifter valey hole , no side load.

 

Rob you are right, i stand corrected !

 

I just did this. I used a regular SBC primer with a 1/2" drive.

Used a high torque electric drill set on high to drive the pump. Took about 2 mins before I saw decent oil pressure. If you don't have a manual oil pressure guage you can also just prime it for 10 mins until you see oil coming out of all the rockers, fills up the heads, and leaks back down onto the cam.

You might also need to turn the crank 90 degrees every few minutes to ensure proper oiling. I never did though and it was fine.

 

Okay great tip .. I'll get myself a standard SBC oil primer then and make the best of it.

 

collar.

 

There is another way to get pressure after the intake is on. If you pull the plugs and the fuse, you can spin the engine with the starter. With no compression, it isn't damaging to the engine, provided you've got lots of lube on all your parts with metal-to-metal contact. I had an engine builder tell me you could do this for several minutes without damage. It only took a few seconds for me. After you've got pressure, you can put the plugs in and go. I did this and had immediate pressure when the car started after I had freshened the motor.

 

I'm almost convinced some engine builders, like some doctors, were burger flippers in their previous occupation. They (engine builders) are certainly NOT equal in ability and/or knowledge of the internal combustion engine. Go ahead and crank that engine over, without any oil in the oil galleys/passages, it is your engine. As for me, the engine is primed with all passages filled and brought up to pressure, before the crank moves. To each their own, I 'spose. I'm certainly NOT stating it is absolutely necessary. I like to call it, respect for my money.

 

Don't weld anything on,to,or about the oil pump.Welders DON'T belong on anything inside of engines.Just assemble the drives and they will take care of themselves.
The primer isn't going anywhere just line it up and squeeze the trigger.
Don't spin the motor with the starter untill ya have primed it,don't care how much assy lube is in it.Don't worry about turning the crank untill ya are ready to crank it.