Engine Startup After Rebuild - advice please

[limey66]

OK, I'm nearly ready to fire her up ('66 289 C code), and I'm thinking you guys must have seen every problem there is. Any advice? In particular:

Is the oil pump self priming? If not, how do I fill it up?

I need to get oil around the engine before I make proper start, I have been told that I can spin the oil pump over with a power drill, if I take the distributor out. Is this correct? What kind of drive do I need to fabricate the do this?

How do I prime the fuel system? The gas tank has a gallon or two of fresh unleaded in it, but I need to get the gas into the carb to prevent a lot of unecessary cranking before she fires. Any tips?

The benefit of your collective wisdom would be appreciated.

 

[red65]

Definitely prime the oil pump before starting. To not prime is to invite damage to your freshly-built, but at the moment, completely-unlubricated engine. Remove the distributor so you can see the oil pump drive shaft. The best way is to use a shaft with a hex-cutout in the end that's made for this purpose (Summit sells them, as does every auto parts store, at least on this side of the pond) - one end to the oil pump shaft, other end to a power drill. It's possible to use a socket and extension for this purpose, but you run the risk of dropping either one (or both) into the oil pan, which would probably ruin your day... Prime until oil appears at the rocker arms, so you're sure it's distributed throughout the engine.

 

[limey66]

Thanks Red.

Dumb question - my drill goes both ways - which direction should I spin it? Clockwise, or anti-clock? And how fast, for that matter?

 

[65ShelbyClone]

1.)Is the oil pump self priming? If not, how do I fill it up?

2.) I need to get oil around the engine before I make proper start, I have been told that I can spin the oil pump over with a power drill, if I take the distributor out. Is this correct? What kind of drive do I need to fabricate the do this?

3.) How do I prime the fuel system? The gas tank has a gallon or two of fresh unleaded in it, but I need to get the gas into the carb to prevent a lot of unecessary cranking before she fires. Any tips?

The benefit of your collective wisdom would be appreciated.

1.) Oil pumps generally are not self-priming, but many times they have enough assebly oil in them to allow pumping. If your engine is already assebled and in the car, try the drill-powered pumping method first. You might be able to spin the pump fast enough to get oil in it. If all else fails, you may be able to get oil into it throught the oil filter ports on the sideo of the block.

2.)I believe you need to rotate the pump counter clockwise. It doesnt need to spin that fast and your drill probably wont handle too much enthusiasm anyway. It takes a bit of power to drive an oil pump.

3.) To prime the fuel system, you either just crank it until fuel gets to the carb or you could manually fill the carb with a bottle and small funnel. That way it may run long enough to get the fuel flowing.

 

[66stangbluework]

someone else chime in here, but I believe it is COUNTERCLOCKWISE or at least I think thats the way we did it good luck well shelby just posted at the same time, so I must be right

 

[brianj5600]

You can fill the carb through the bowl vent. The oil pump turns anti. If you can't fill the carb you can always start it like a top fueler until it gets gas.

 

[valley firearms]

If everything in the engine is new, make sure you have enough gas in your tank to break it in. I know with a new cam it takes at least 1/2 hour. Check your product info on your components. I broke my cam in for 1/2hr at 2500rpm reducing the rpm after 20 min to about 2000.

 

[thehueypilot]

It is counter clock wise which means your drill will need to be run in reverse. It will be very hard on a 3/8 drill motor so beware. I use a 1/2 drill motor and it still heats up. You can also unplug the dist. battery wire and use the starter motor until your oil pressure gage starts reading pressure (remove sparkplugs). This method will also get fuel to the carb. Just make sure you have a fully charged battery.

 

[mudbilly]

someone else chime in here, but I believe it is COUNTERCLOCKWISE or at least I think thats the way we did it good luck well shelby just posted at the same time, so I must be right

i wasn't sure which direction to turn the pump, so i just looked at the firing order and the plug wires on the distributor and figgered which direction the distibutor would have to turn to make the firing order correct.

i used a speed socket (looks like an old auger drill, ......hmmm haven't seen them used in a long time) to prime..

i also had to grind down the OD of the socket a tad because it wouldn't fit down into the oil pump

side note: i replaced just about every part during my rebuild EXCEPT the oil sending unit and temp unit because i was planning on changing to gauges from idiot lights and figgered i could save a buck by using the old senders for a while...................................

had oil pi$$..g out of the sender when priming.......set back my start up by a day