I am putting together a '68 Olds 400, I am trying to prime the engine with oil. I was spinning the pump with a drill, getting good resistance, the lifters filled with oil and then the drill started basically free spinning as if I lost all oil pressure and oil would not push up through pushrods. Is there any other oil plugs inside the engine? I only know of four, two in the rear and two in the front on either side of the camshaft and one of the two in the front has the tiny hole for oiling the timing chain. Can anyone possibly tell me what went wrong? Thank you, Jay

 

the drill is going the right direction isn't it? the drive didn't lift up out of the pump while spinning did it? just double check the basics first, I'm sure you have but just giving ideas.

 

As stated above the Olds engine distributor and oil pump turn counter clockwise. Verify this first. I install a manual guage in place of the oil sending unit to monitor oil pressure when I do this.

 

try to turn over during oiling by hand . I found on my pontiac That it allowed oil to flow to all lifters . I did it with my valve covers off.

 

What would happen to the gauge if you accidentially went clockwise?

 

Was there enough oil to prevent the pan from being emptied? If there was only two quarts or so perhaps the pan was emptied before the oil ran back down. Can you see through the drain plug hole to tell if the pick-up came out of the pump?

 

it is possible it could hurt a mechanical gauge but that would only be for the first second at most. if there is oil in the galleries it would suck that oil out and after that it would read zero. shouldn't really hurt anything, just reverse the drill and see if the gauge is working.

 

Au contraire. It would tear a hole in the time-space continuum - sort of like this thread just did!

- Eric

 

eeehhhh, nothing? A pump is a pump, and the pressure it generates regardless of the direction it is rotated will be indicated on the gauge.

I can't believe I was compelled to clarify that...

John

 

ehhhhh... Unless you are messing with this kid. turn the pump the wrong direction = no pressure = no indication.

John

 

I use an old distributor shaft in my 1/2 reverible drill. Cut a short piece of heater hose (5/8 I think) on the end of the shaft. It will help keep the shaft end in the slot of the pump drive shaft.

 

not messing with anyone. if the oil pump is turning backward it is not going to pump oil through the engine. the oil will just sit in the pan. did i miss something?

 

It will not.

It will sit in the pan and blow bubbles!

- Eric

 

I have always primed the engine manually. I use a 1/4" drive ratchet, extension, and deep well socket held onto the long extension with duct tape. When I hear the oil squirting and get heavy resistance, I stop. I fill the lifters if hydraulic before installing by putting them in a cup filled with oil and depressing the plunger several times. Since I have moly cam lube on pushrod and rocker tips and on the rocker pivots, they can wait for full oiling.

 

No, I read it as you were expecting an indication if the pump was spun clockwise. Same page, different wording I think..

John

 

That sounds like SOB [Some Other Brand] voodoo

Olds has a 5/16" hex shaft.
No slots. No tangs.

A pump, spun backwards will attempt to pump backwards
ATTEMPT being the key word here...

with the "pickup" now being above the pump, in short order it will take in nothing but air which will leak past the gears and pretty much do nothing.

 

Only if it doesn't have a check valve, and the impellars are designed in a manner that allows reverse pressure... and actually, I can't remember if the Olds pumps have a check valve.

 

Just to be precise there are two of the four plugs that have holes in them. One for the timing chain and one for the distributor gear.

 

Wouldn't it be alot less work to just bump the starter a couple times and see?

The starter always turns in the right direction...

Unless the olds and chevy world collide i guess.

 

depending on your classification of "plugs" yes 4 threaded plugs
and 1 freeze plug style in back of block that covers access hole to
the inner threaded plug in oil galley . ( I forgot which side of block that
bugger is on but if someone missed putting that one in you'll spin that pump till eternity and never get pressure reading

 

Twice in one thread you have me cracking up. My wife thinks I'm retarded! LMAO!

If the engine is on a stand you may not be able to do that. Most people don't build engines while they're still in the car LOL!

It's on the driver's side.

So can we put this one back to bed? After two years threads tend to get cranky when their woken up by rhetorical questions