Need to "prime" oil pump?

[47topless]

I just repaired a damaged ring gear in my 59A. The repaired engine is installed and ready to try and start for the first time. Before I crank on the starter, is it necessary to "prime" the oil pump, with a few rotations by hand, in order to lubricate the engine? It seems dangerous to crank on a "dry" engine.

Thank you,
Phil

[rockfla]

The way I did mine, after coating all the main and rod bearings with assembly lube. I left my intake off, I pulled the oil pressure relief spring and plunger out and when I poured the break in oil in the valley, I poured some down into where the oil pressure relief valve sits. Re installed that. Then hit a couple of squirts of MMO in the cylinders through the spark plug hole, left the spark plugs out of the heads to keep as little friction on the motor. I spun it by the starter.....within 2-3 seconds at most, my mechaincal oil pressure gauge I installed at the back of the block at the sender jumped to life. I spun it for about another 5/10 seconds more to make sure it registered a good oil pressure value, which it did. Installed the intake and plugs and it was good to go!!!!

[petehoovie]

Pack the pump with Vaseline and then install it...

[rockfla]

Petehoovie X2


YES, one very important part to my build that I completely forgot to mention.....I packed the oil pump with assembly lube before I installed it into the block....Thanks Pete for that reminder!!!!

[Tim Ayers]

Prior to the hitting the key for the first time, I also pumped about 3/4 of qt into the oil pressure boss located on the back of the block. This was recommended to me by the builder. Upon start up, I got instant oil pressure.

[Kube]

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Originally Posted by petehoovie

Pack the pump with Vaseline and then install it...

As silly as this may sound to "newbies", this is exactly what we were taught in my Automotive Machinist classes.