Priming a 340 that's been dynoed a few months ago

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Tess

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After doing a search on engine priming and seeing the tried and true methods, I have a question about an alternative way to prime.
Firstly, our 340 was assembled and dynoed 3 months ago. Since then we've had it on a stand and recently installed a Kevco pan and pickup. It stayed upside down on the stand for awhile and the oil from the pump drained out of the oil pressure switch fitting. I'm thinking a re-priming might be wise, especially since the oil pump is probably empty...and we removed it to mount the pickup tube.

Finally my question. Has anyone used a socket and drill to spin the crank with plugs out? Seems easy to me and it's a good way to make sure the top end gets primed completely.
Looking forward to your advice and thanks for reading.
 
Your defeating the purpose of priming the engine. And even with the plugs out I doubt a drill would turn your engine over.
 
first i have to ask why the hell woudl you not want to do it the normal and proper way?


do it the proper way with the proper tool and a drill.. highly doubt you'll be able to spin the engine fast enough to get oil pressure the way you are talking about doing it..
 
Look at the devices that the F1 guys use to start an engine, and that will give yo an idea of what you would need to spin the motor at anything above normal cranking speed. The standard priming way is what you need to do, and turn the crank over slowly for 2 full revolutions while priming and stop every 20 degrees or so for say 10 seconds to be sure get oil into the rockers.

Starter Motor
 
Do not use the starter to prime an engine, ever.

Today's parts are not designed to turn that slow for that length of time.

Seen many roller lifters killed because people thought it was a good idea to grind on the starter until oil pressure built up.

Not a good way to do it.

You ar better off to get it in the car and make it run than to do what you want. How many times does stuff sit for 2,3 or 4 months and then we jump in and fire me off and go? Happens all the time.

Make it run and go play. Unless you love to do make work stuff.
 
The engine has already been ran on a dyno, pulling the coil and using the starter isn't going to hurt anything or grind anything that isn't already worn or broken in. Pull the coil wire,hook up a oil pressure gauge, and crank for ten seconds at a time, until you see the gauge needle move, then hook the coil wire back up and fire it up. I also agree with YR, just fire it up and run it, it isn't like it lost all of its prime and is bone dry.
 
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I'm with Yellow Rose on this, fire it up and go. It was Dyno'ed, oil circulated everywhere it needed to go, if, if, if, you are still paranoid, get a priming tool and pull the distributor spin the pump, roll the crank by hand, end of story.
 
Good advice guys, thanks.
Yes I admit to being a touch paranoid with this $build$ and didn't want to touch timing (pull distributor and gear) from where it was set for dyno pulls....unless we had to. Just thought maybe spinning the crank was viable but I agree with above comments.
While the pan was off we could see that the cam lobes were wet so it's likely enough oil film to safely fire it up and get pressure without causing damage.
Thanks again gents, we appreciate your input. We'll post some pics when she's all buttoned up and running. June 4th is the big day! The last time I had an Abody with 340 running in our garage was 1986 (70 Duster)...now the young Lad has me re-living my youth with his 69 Valiant lol. It never gets old does it!
 
Didn't the dyno people provide you with the proper timing settings?
What I really hear you saying is pulling the distributor and getting it back in correctly is out of your mechanical comfort zone?
Basically taking a marker and marking the distributors position and marketing where the rotor is pointing is all that's needed here. I tend to leave my motor setting on TDC (on compression stroke) so I know the rotor is pointing at #1.
Of course any time I do this I recheck timing when I get it restarted.
DON'T be afraid ....
 
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