I've been busy with drawing up a gameplan for building my engine. I have found a set of new, aftermarket bare heads that I will build. I'm opting for the Magnums that have cast inserts. As I've said before, the truck will be used only for occasional hauling, plus I have budget limitations. As for the new heads, I'm going to build them, and am thinking along the lines of 1.7 Rockers, new lifters, pushrods, and cam. I have read the book on Magnum engine rebuilding, and the one subject I didn't see addressed was how to prime the oil galleys. I know the usual procedure is to get another distributor, or an adapter, hook that to an electric drill, insert it into the distributor port and then go. That way the engine is slowly lubricated without a "dry" start. Is this what some of you who have rebuilt engines have done, or is there another procedure?

Thanks again.

 

that's what I do

 

OK, looks like I need to talk to my buddy, whose family owns a junkyard, and get an old distributor from him.

 

YEP you know you cant have the gear on it right it cannot be touching the cam
just the oil pump

 

If you lube the engine as you assemble it and oil the pump it will be fine. They don't go to all the trouble of priming on the assembly line. I use STP. Never had any problems.

 

When i primed my engine i got the oil pump shaft from a ford.
Yes a ford, 302
if you take the drive shaft from that and put it on a 5/16 1/4" drive socket.
get a long extension and then use an adapter you can either run it on an air rachet or an electric drill depending on which adapter you used.
I hope that helps

 

Hey, that's a neat trick to know. Thanks.