I am replacing the cam on my 1957 Oldsmobile 371. I need an oil pump primer tool or an old distributor for a 371 that I can use to make one. Does anyone know if anyone makes a tool for the 371? Or does anyone have an old distributor they are willing to part with?

 

I've got a distributor from a 1959 371. Not sure if they interchange but if they do this would be available. John

 

1959 and up used a hexagon drive shaft.
'49 thru '58 used a round shaft with one slot.

 

Thank you for posting Charlie. Would he be able to take one from a 1955 324 and make it work? Or would the length of the distributor shaft be different?

 

The oil pump drive shaft is the same 49 thru 58.
The distributor gear is not. 49 thru 55 and 56 thru 58.

 

Thanks guys for chiming in here. So Charlie, are you saying the oil pump drive connection on the 55 324 is the same, and just the distributor gear to the cam is different? If so, would the 55 distributor be able to be stripped down to make the primer tool?

 

Looking at the illustration below, it looks like the oil pump drive might be the same as a Chevy.
Buying a priming tool for $25 makes a lot more sense than trying to make one from an old distributor.
You will need a reversing drill. Because you must turn this pump in a counterclockwise direction.
This is link to a priming tool.
CHEVROLET Proform Parts 66896 Proform Oil Pump Primers | Summit Racing

 

Thanks Charlie. I ordered that tool last week and at first glance doesn't look like it will work. Appears to be a different connection at the pump but I am out of town and haven't had the chance to actually compare it to the connection at the bottom of the dist.

 

Let us know if it works OK.
I know that a primer tool for a Ford will fit '59 and up Olds with a hexagon shaft.