Starting a Rebuilt Engine for the First Time

[Christopher R.]

Queries:
1. Is it imperative to get oil out of all the pushrods? Or, is it sufficient that some oil got up into the valve area?

2. Is 10 minutes of pressure enough time?

[Joel F.]

Re: Starting a Rebuilt Engine for the First Time

Chris,

I'm getting ready to do the same thing and have looked into this a bit myself. Here is what I have found:

1. Yes, you need to get oil out of each pushrod. Priming is as much about getting oil where it needs to be as it is a static check that you don't have an internal oil leak

2. I think the amount of time is irrelevant so long as you get oil at each pushrod.

3. If possible, I think you should prime the engine immediately before dropping the distributor in and firing the car for the first time.

Good luck. I am looking forward to any other posts in this thread, as well as hearing of your progress.

[Joel F.]

Re: Starting a Rebuilt Engine for the First Time

One last question: do you mean you could only turn the balancer 1/4 turn at a time, or 1/4 turn total? If you pull the plugs you will find it easier to turn the engine, but I would think if it is that difficult to turn you might have other issues.

[David D.]

Re: Starting a Rebuilt Engine for the First Time

One last question: do you mean you could only turn the balancer 1/4 turn at a time, or 1/4 turn total? If you pull the plugs you will find it easier to turn the engine, but I would think if it is that difficult to turn you might have other issues.

Chris,

I agree with Joel. Pull the plugs.

You should be able to rotate the crank 180 degrees each time, and if you do this a total of four times (ie. one complete engine cycle), you should be more than ready for startup. As long as you confirm oil the the top of each head.
David

[Christopher R.]

Re: Starting a Rebuilt Engine for the First Time

Rotating the crank more than the 1/4 turn I already did, is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. The plugs are out. I don't wish to go into the reasons here, but it's very difficult, if not impossible, for me to turn the harmonic balancer more than the 1/4 turn I already did. That's a whole 'nother problem that I don't wish to solve right now. This is the reason for my question. I don't want to have to go back and turn it 360 degrees.

What I'm trying to determine is how important is it to prime the oil pump with the crank in different positions?

Lots of assembly lube was used. Chevrolet never primed them. I'll betcha lots of people have replaced camshafts and never pumped up the oil pressure in any crank position before first start. I'm trying to pick a judgement point that makes sense to me. Somewhere in between the old way of doing nothing and the nowadays pampering of the car.

[John H.]

Re: Starting a Rebuilt Engine for the First Time

If you see oil from at least some of the pushrods on both sides, that's all you really need - the rest will get oil as soon as it starts; just put some oil on both ends of any rockers that didn't get oil when you primed so those contact surfaces aren't dry when it starts (this assumes you've already checked each pushrod during assembly to make sure they're clear inside).