Priming the oiling system is an important step when starting an engine that is new, or has been sitting for a long time. On a small block Chevy, this is done by removing the distributor and turning the pump driveshaft directly with a drill. There are special tools that fit in place of the distributor which can be attached to a drill to do the priming, but a good one costs $20 or more, and are not easy to find here in Canada.

A pump primer can be made using an old distributor. The major modifications needed are the removal of the gear teeth so that it does not try to drive the camshaft, and removal of the electronics and advance weights. I did this in under ten minutes with an angle grinder. To keep the priming tool from coming apart, I drilled a hole in the shaft and fed a small cable tie through it.

Oil Pump Primer

An oil pump priming tool can be made using an old distributor.

One common issue with priming the oiling system on a Chevy small block is getting oil to the rockers on the passenger side (right, or 2-4-6-8 side) of the engine. A priming tool with a sleeve to close the hole in the lifter valley must be used, or else pressure will never build on the passenger side, and no oil will flow. A priming tool made from an old distributor does meet this requirement.

In order to build oil pressure on the passenger side of the engine, an oil pump primer with a lower sleeve for the lifter valley hole or an old distributor must be used.

Rebuilding the 350

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Page last modified on December 29, 2009 22:55:35. (ID=75)