oil pump priming postwar 327/288

Posted by JeromeSolberg On 2021/7/4 15:43:35

Hi folks,

I am just getting ready to start my 1953 327 with the hydraulic lifters.

I installed an aftermarket mechanical oil pressure gage (temporarily) on the very last (closest to the firewall) oil gallery tap.

When put together (but that was a long time ago) the oil pump was packed with grease. Of course when I was trying to figure out the distributor install and various things, it got rotated probably more than one revolution. The shop said that they "took the oil pump apart, it looked fine, so they just packed it with grease and put it back together".

I then took off the tee for the oil pressure sending unit, and back-pumped oil using a manual oil pump can and a hose and a barbed 1/8 NPT fitting, until the oil was going in without any bubbles. Not sure if that was enough.

Then I spin the engine some with the spark plugs out. I don't see any oil coming to the far oil galley. It's hard from where I am to see the oil pressure light.

Any thoughts? Should I take the oil pump out? Should I try to just take the oil pump cover off and re-pack with grease? (I think I have to take all the bolts off, but then just pull the cover off, don't try to take the entire oil pump out, I imagine I have to be careful the gears don't come out).

In the '1948 zero oil pressure' thread, it is discussed trying to turn the engine backwards while you pump oil into it. Is this necessary? Pump oil, turn pump backwards, pump oil, turn pump backwards, that kind of thing?

Thanks and Happy 4th!