Priming oil pump

[KyFarm]

I'm getting ever so close to test firing the HT383 I've installed in my '69 K10.

It has sat a while so the info that came with it says to pull the distributor and prime the oil pump with a priming tool and drill.

I'd do that but I'm not sure the distributor can be pulled due to its proximity to the firewall.

It is possible to just pull the plug wires and crank the motor until oil is visible under the valve covers?
Is this gonna do serious damage to cylinder walls?
Can a guy spray some type of lubricant into the cylinders through the plug holes and then crank until oil is primed?

the motor is farther along than in the pic, just a reference of the distributor/firewall location.

Thanks for any help.

[vince1]

With the cap and wires installed my distributor was almost touching the firewall but by taking the cap off, the distributor did come out. You will need a special tool in there so that oil will prime to the right bank if I remember it correctly. I used a piece of EMT with a few wraps of electrical tape but with an engine that looks as nice as yours I'm guessing you already have the tool.

[geezer#99]

If you pull the cap off you’ll have room to get the distributor out. And get the tool back in.
Driving the tool will be the problem.
No room for a drill.
I’ve used flex couplers which work well and angle drives which work better.
You don’t want to crank it over and over to get oil primed. You might scuff a wall or wipe a bearing.
Who built the motor?
Is it roller cammed?

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

If it has been sitting after being a runner it is a good idea to prime with light weight oil, and rotate the crank a few times as you go. That way you can the rod bearings, and lifters.

If it was never ran the assembly lube may still be there. May still be there.

I would prime my own engines.

You can use 3/8ths drive extension, U joint extension, socket for the primer, and drill driver adapter. To get the angle you need.

[KyFarm]

thanks guys, its looking like pulling the distributor is gonna have to be the deal, I'll probably need some help getting it back timed TDC on #1 but I'll work that out as it comes,

I'm gonna have to rent the oil priming tool, but every parts store seems to have one.

the motor is a chevy crate motor, HT383 (Part Number: 19355720) - L31 block bored and stroked to 383CI with vortec heads.

Hydraulic roller cam, (P/N 14097395):

Thanks for the good advice!

[geezer#99]

Just remember that even though it’s a roller cam, you should run it at 1500 or more rpm for 10 minutes or so on first start. Cam and lifters and piston walls are lubed by splash.
Do you have a compression gauge? Or rent one?
I use one to confirm #1 tdc compression when putting a distributor in.

[KyFarm]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Just remember that even though it’s a roller cam, you should run it at 1500 or more rpm for 10 minutes or so on first start. Cam and lifters and piston walls are lubed by splash.
Do you have a compression gauge? Or rent one?
I use one to confirm #1 tdc compression when putting a distributor in.

Thanks for that, I’ll look into renting one
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[KyFarm]

Are the spark plug holes on a sbc generally 14 mm.

Looking to buy my own compression tester.
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[truckster]

Originally Posted by KyFarm

thanks guys, its looking like pulling the distributor is gonna have to be the deal, I'll probably need some help getting it back timed TDC on #1 but I'll work that out as it comes...

Put it at 0 on the timing tab before you pull the distributor cap. Then pull the cap and make a mark on the distributor base and on a piece of tape on the manifold to indicate where the rotor points. When you reinstall the distributor, make sure the marks line up and you're good to go. Just don't rotate the crankshaft while you have the distributor out.

[garyd1961]

There are motors that you can't prime the oil pump and you just remove the plugs and crank the motor until you see the gauge move. Not saying th his is what you should do with your motor, although I would be less concerned with the roller cam.

[cadillac_al]

mistake