bones wrote:
Thanks guys, great info, just what I needed. Craig, I left the distributor out as I plan to pre load the engine with oil using a shaft and drill.When that job is done I will line up the oil pump as per your instructions. The pump has the IPD bushing on it and I wondered how to get it lined up. I had planned to ask how to line up the oil pump when I got that far. The manual is a little short on remounting the distributor, it tells you what to look for at the top, but no mention of the bottom. Much appreciated.
Bill
The manual only mentions the top view as once the pan is on you can't get at the bottom. I have found that it is difficult to correctly line things up from the top and discovered this trick when I assembled my last engine. I just figured there had to be something very easy to do as on a production line no one is going to be measuring angle separation on a pump...they need to slap it together. So you won't read about this little trick anywhere. Again, engine timed, then install the pump drive shaft which is also the distributor drive, so that the dog that engages the oil pump is perpendicular to the crank mainline and you've got the thing timed right when you put the pump/pan on and flip it over on your engine stand.
I didn't worry about priming the engine the way you are suggesting - it ain't a top fuel dragster. Don't get me wrong, this is the right way to do it and all that, and I for sure would suggest it if I were on the Brickboard. Here's my procedure. The pistons were soaked in oil prior to installation, the bearings and all other metal to metal contact surfaces were coated with break in lube or moly grease (used for cam shaft). The start up oil and cam break in fluid are then added. With the distributor installed, pull the plugs and crank the engine until you get full oil pressure (you're going with a real gauge for the oil pressure not a light right?), put the plugs in and spark it up. It will run and be fine right off the bat - don't let it idle and keep varying the revs for the first couple of minutes. Then DRIVE it and load the engine (pull up hills etc) to help seat the piston rings.