Priming oil system question
 

When your priming your BBC with a drill motor and straight shaft (1/2" rod with a flat ground on it) will you get a large amount of oil pumping from the distributor hole coming from the back of the block where it would be pumping on the distributor shaft if it was in the engine?....On my other brand engines I use an old distributor so I don't or haven't seen this....I assume it is to provide oil to the distributor gear but appears to be a lot of oil....just wondering if this was normal, Thanks, Fred.

The oil you are seeing is oil that would be going to the lifters / rockers/ valve springs / front timing chain & gear. The distriburer has a groove in it to let the oil continue on.

That oil is supposed to go to the main oil galleys in the lifter valley. Without a distributor or a priming tool (a junk distributor with the gear ground off or removed) you're not priming the engine.
Just go to the local boneyard and buy a chevy distributor and remove the gear.
By the way Fred, did you use plenty of lube on the cam and lifters?

I thought the housing had to have something to do with the sealing the system to get oil to go to other areas...I used all the lube that came with the cam and I set the lifters in oil for sevaral days....when I started motor I got a lot of lifter clatter...how long does it take for the lifters to pump up?....I ran it about 5 min. and still clattering.....should I pull dist. and reprime it correctly before continuing? ( I think yes) Thanks guy's, Fred.

I may be off base here but if you still have clatter after 5 minutes it is not a priming issue. Anyone else? Did you have oil pressure during that 5 minute span? Check adjustment.

Did you have your lifter adjusted properly if there still clattering the are either loose are no oil.
later

I had all kinds of oil pressure....just thinking that I may have to put more pre-load on lifters also....did the half turn load as cam manufacture recommends although merc book says 1 turn...I am re-checking that issue next....Fred

You need to adjust the valves with the motor running. Back off adjusting nut until you hear clatter. Then tight down until clatter goes away. Then add 1/2 turn (Some say more but I have never had a problem with just 1/2 turn).

One other thought, are you using correct distributer? Or better question is while motor was running were you getting oil to the rockers & springs. If you were not getting any oil up there you have some serious problems.

Fred, I'll make a road trip over to your place this weekend if you'd like. I'm sure we can sort out the problem.
I've always set the lifters without the engine running and never have had a problem. I know people that set them running but that can be difficult to do with your manifolds.
Call me if you'd like.

Correct Crazyhorse, it's a beeitch to do with my manifolds although it would be easier......I am going to pull the valve covers and see if they (the lifters) are pumped up then I might tighten exhaust back up and set with engine running big blocks don't blow oil everywhere because of the canted valves do they?......if so I will just re-set and try it again....Fred

oh yeah, they make a huge mess. call me.

Don't need no stinking mess....what time do you want me to call you?...on your cell or home?....I have both numbers.....I think I will be resetting them cold....Fred

I do need to make sure the oil is getting to the valve train componets....I'll get that figured out first.....Fred

Sorry Fred, we've been playing phone tag today. I'll be around all weekend and I'll have my celphone with me. Call anytime.

I make a carboard box with opening where the adjusting nuts go. I remove valve cover, put this box over & it catches most of the mess

You can buy little clips for the ends of the push rod to control the oil flow with covers off (autozone). Cost very little. The only time I had lifter noise I couldn't easily solve it was the valves hitting the pistons. Hope this is not your problem!

BT :cool:

Fred,

this is what I do when I build my boat motor. With the spark plugs out and the coil grounded I spin the motor with the starter. A couple of spins and I get 20 psi on my guage and oil squirting from my rocker arms. I set all my valves up cold by rotating the motor and adjusting per the manual the ones that line up with the timing marks. You spin the motor again and then adjust the next set. I think it takes 4 spins per the mannual. I then check my valve adjustment with a compression check and i know the engine has oil and compression. I then set the timing marks and drop the distributor and it is always pretty close.

Just how I do it before I fire it up. I am sure someone has a better way.

Good Luck

Don't burn up the starter. give it some time to cool.

Thanks to all for the suggestions, I am all set now, Thanks again, Fred