Oil priming on new engine HELP

[aknotts]

I have a freshly built 318LA motor, done by a reputable company, and am trying to prime the oil pump before starting for the first time.
I have a mechanical oil guage, connected by the distributor.
I have pulled the distributor and intermediate shaft and ran a rod down through to the oil pump and turned clockwise with a drill for about 2-3 minutes.
I am not seeing any reaction on the guage or seeing any oil in the tube to the guage, or in valve train area. I can feel that the oil pump is turning.

Questions, is turning the pump with a drill enough to see a response on the guage and should I see oil in the valve train using this method.

What could be wrong?

Should I go ahead and crank it up and see if I get pressure?

 

[RustyRatRod]

No. Don't start it. You will KNOW when the oil pump picks up oil because it will strain the drill very noticably. Sometimes if you're not paying attention it will snatch the drill out of your hand. It's THAT noticable. If you've got no resistance on the drill, try filling the filter with as much oil as it will hold, reinstall it and try again.

 

[moparmarks]

DO NOT fire it up. Should be getting plenty of pressure with a drill so it sounds like you have a problem. Did all the plugs get put back in the block? Oil pump has a good by-pass spring?

 

[67 coronet]

have you tryed rotating the crank while some one turns the drill?rotating the motor may solve your problem.

 

[HT413]

I had a similar problem after disassembling the top end of my motor. I drained the oil, put a new, dry oil filter on it and it sat like that for a few months as I tinkered with it. I guess the oil pump lost its prime and wouldn't pick up oil pressure for anything, so I removed, packed it with vaseline (a tip i picked up here on the forum), filled the oil filter and the oil pressure came right up.

 

[MarPar]

aren't you supposed to prime it counterclockwise?

 

[Seax440Dodge]

You do on a big block, small block is clockwise

 

[MarPar]

ah thanks

 

[aknotts]

Alright, thanks everyone for the info here, gives me a few more things to try, I hope I do not have to drop the pan. I ordered the "proper" priming tool, I don't really trust the homemade one not to break.
If I remove the oil filter and squirt some heavy oil up into the block, will that help maybe get the pump started?

 

[RustyRatRod]

I would just use motor oil. But yes, it may help. Lots of times if you do not prime the pump before you install it, it will not pump because it lacks an oil film to seal the rotors and cause a vacuum. That's why I recommended filling the oil filter. Lots of times when you do that, it will go ahead and start pumping.

 

[WP29440SE]

I hope the machine shop got all the oil galley plugs in. with the pan full and the pump primed , you should have already had oil pressure . 2 minutes is plenty long enough.

 

[moparmarks]

Did you feel the drill bog down or just keep free spinning. If just kept free spinning then the problem is on the pickup side of the pump or in the pump. If bogged down then problem is on pressure side of pump, galley plug, by-pass spring ect.

 

[Garys1969RR]

Did they put a new oil pump in it? I always do when re building an engine. My big block 451 with a Melling pump primed right away. I always oil up the rotors before installing the pump.

 

[aknotts]

The pump was just free spinning, and no it was not primed before putting it in, That one is on me, I am going to try forcing some oil up through the passage to the filter to see if that works. The priming tool will be delivered today, so wish me luck, tomight we will try again.

 

[aknotts]

Did they put a new oil pump in it? I always do when re building an engine. My big block 451 with a Melling pump primed right away. I always oil up the rotors before installing the pump.

Yes the pump is new, Melling pump, and no my dumb *** did not prime it when I installed it. That was the only thing the builders did not do.

 

[451Mopar]

look in/down the dist hole and make sure they installed the inside lifter galley plug.

 

[mopar350]

remove spark plugs ground or disconnect coil, crank with starter. that is my way.

 

[furyus]

It could be you need to rotate the engine while priming. A big block has to be. The upper oiling is timed by holes drilled in the cam. Try it with the valve cover off spinning the pump clockwise while rotating the engine slowly until you see oil at the rockers and the gauge.

 

[aknotts]

Thanks everyone I have oil. I removed the oil filter and squirted some oil up into the block from where the filter mounts, as soon as I turned the pump, by hand even, I had oil. Replaced filter and attached drill, I have good oil pressure and oil in both valve trains. Rotated engine while priming so we should be good to go.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I love it when a plan comes together.