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I am wrapping up a cam install (cam, springs, push rods, oil pump, left stock lifters in, timing chain...). Everything swapped has a coat of engine assembly lube on it (even oil pump gears).
Who has done the "remove fuel pump relay and leave coil packs disconnected and crank" method for priming their engine with oil.
Sounds like you've got the right idea, thats how I did mine. Cranked it over for a few seconds and had pressure. Plugged the coils back in and the fuel pump relay and fired it up. Never had any problems doing it that way. If you're sure you got everything coated well in assembly lube, you'd probably be fine to just fire it up. But priming it is never a bad idea.
Follow up question – my engine was assembled about 4 years ago and unfortunately the LS swap in my 87 TA has taken longer. It’s been sitting and never cranked. The fly wheel was spun a bit when installing the flywheel and transmission.
Anything extra I should do on top of the method mentioned above? ETA to completion in the next few month…
That's what I did..I just hooked a battery charger up and did quite a few cycles until pressure registered on my gauge.. I was surprised I had almost 40 psi just cranking with the starter but took a minute
Search this section for the Home Depot hand pump sprayer technique. You can buy these sprayers for cheap, put oil in it and get the needed fittings to attach it to your engine. It primes the engine while sitting on the stand or in the car. You can tap into the threaded plug under cylinder#1. near the front of the block.
It's hands down the best way to prime your engine and easy as hell, too. I put in like 3 quarts and pumped it into the engine on the engine stand while slowly rotating the engine over by hand. It only took a couple of minutes.
Here it is.
I've used it twice now and would suggest that everyone prime their engine prior to putting the starter to it. It's just too damn easy not to do this.
Here is my homemade pre-oiler. It's made out of PVC pipe, mostly just leftovers from my shop build. I used an oil pan drain plug from NAPA for the oil galley plug and drilled and tapped it for 1/8" NPT. Put about 40 psi in it and when I saw pressure on my gauge I cranked the starter over for a bit.
Last edited by squarles67; Jun 8, 2017 at 03:56 PM.
I unplug the injectors and leave the relay and coils and crank it. With the relay out it will still have residual pressure and shoot fuel in, not much, but I prefer to have none sprayed in. There are better ways but this is an easy way.
If your going to use your starter motor to prime your engine, you'll want to fill your oil filter with oil before you put it on. Be patient while doing this, as it will hold 3/4 of a quart, and take a while to get it full. This will bring your oil pressure up in half the time.
Also if using this method, pull your spark plugs while cranking!!! Compression will not be kind to your rod bearings, and the engine will spin over much faster as well.
Here is my homemade pre-oiler. It's made out of PVC pipe, mostly just leftovers from my shop build. I used an oil pan drain plug from NAPA for the oil galley plug and drilled and tapped it for 1/8" NPT. Put about 40 psi in it and when I saw pressure on my gauge I cranked the starter over for a bit.
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Oil Priming - Advice 
