Oil Primer Question

[Mark P.]

I will be using an oil primer before starting my rebuilt 283.

Will the use of the primer result in any issues getting the distributor in correctly ?

I was hoping I could just be 180 degrees off if I got it to drop into the bottom slot.

Either way I plan to to this to make sure I get my distributor in right:

1. after oil priming I will turn my engine clockwise with a wrench on my newly installed harmonic balancer snout bolt.

2. I will watch the valves in the #1 cylinder to make sure I see the intake valve depress then the exhaust valve depress then I will keep turning until I get to TDC

3. I will then drop in the distributor in and rotate it slightly until it drops into the bottom slot.

4. I will turn the distributor until the rotor moves clockwise just slightly past the #1 cylinder position on the distributor cap.

Is this the correct way to do it ?

[Joe R.]

Re: Oil Primer Question

Mark,

There should be no problem. You take a long common screwdriver and turn the oil pump shaft slot where it needs to be and drop the distributor in the hole.

Nuttin to it!

JR

[Joseph K.]

Re: Oil Primer Question

There are several methods to bring the engine up to top dead center. Your on the right track. When you insert the distributer the rotor should point to the number 1 piston position on the distributer when fully inserted in the block. Another way to determine if the piston is coming up on the compression stroke is too pull the plug and feel the compression stroke with your finger over the hole. How did you prime the engine?

Good Luck

[Jim L.]

Re: Oil Primer Question

1. after oil priming I will turn my engine clockwise with a wrench on my newly installed harmonic balancer snout bolt.

2. I will watch the valves in the #1 cylinder to make sure I see the intake valve depress then the exhaust valve depress then I will keep turning until I get to TDC

3. I will then drop in the distributor in and rotate it slightly until it drops into the bottom slot.

4. I will turn the distributor until the rotor moves clockwise just slightly past the #1 cylinder position on the distributor cap.

Mark,

I'd modify your steps as follows:

2. Rotate the engine towards the number # 1 firing position and stop with the timing mark on the damper at approximately 6 - 8 degrees advanced.

3a. With a long screwdriver in the distributor hole, turn the oil pump so the shaft slot points generally towards the #1 cylinder.

3b. Drop in the distributor with the rotor pointing slightly more counter clockwise than the #1 plug wire position will be on the cap. If the distributor seats on the manifold go to step 4. If not, go back to 3a and adjust the position of the pump shaft slightly.

4. With the distributor seated but not locked down, turn the body of the distributor counter clockwise to the point in the rotation where the points just barely begin to open. Lock the distributor down.

This technique will have the timing close enough that the engine will start and run with timing that isn't real far off.

Good luck.

Jim

[Mark P.]

Re: Oil Primer Question

I will prime the engine with one of those Summit oil primers that inserts in the distributor hole and is spun by my drill.

[Mark P.]

Re: Oil Primer Question

Jim - I am going to start with my HEI distributor then will add my 891 distributor and 091 coil after break in.

Can I insert the HEI distributor 6 degrees BTDC and get it to drop in then turn it so it is just at the #1 cylinder when at TDC ?

Mark

Mark

[Timothy B.]

Re: Oil Primer Question

Mark, Is this a corvette, I always thought the HEI cap would not clear.

Turn engine clockwise and watch #1 INTAKE valve open and close and bring timing marks together on balancer and timing cover. Install distributor to correct clocking position and if the oil pump drive will not engage just lift the distributor high enough to clear cam gear (do not remove) and walk the oil pump drive (with your hand on the rotor) around in a CLOCKWISE direction until it engages pump drive and keep walking it until you are back into the correct position. You will get a feel for it and understand.

Make sure the distributor gear dimple and rotor tip are aligned. After installing and snugging the hold down screw, turn the distributor until points just begin to open. Do not start the engine without the hold down snug. Good to go!!

Mark, When you turn the engine just put it in third gear and rock the tire.

[Christopher R.]

Re: Oil Primer Question

Priming the engine as you propose is a good idea.

Spin the tool with a corded power drill. My 14v Sears cordless couldn't spin fast enough to build any oil pressure.

Prime the engine with the tool with the crank in 3 or 4 different positions around 360 degrees. That is, after you spin the tool and build pressure, rotate the engine about 90 degrees and do it again. That'll get oil up through all the pushrods and onto the rockers. I do this 3 or 4 times up through a full engine rotation (360 degrees) to make sure I've covered it all. Doing this too much may be overkill. But it can't hurt anything.

Leave the spark plugs out when you rotate the engine. Makes the engine much easier to turn. I don't like using the crankshaft/harmonic balancer snout bolt to do this. Maybe I'm too cautious. But putting all that torque on one bolt scares me. Break that bolt, and you won't be happy. There's tools made for this purpose. The tool bolts onto the harmonic balancer onto where the 3 bolts for the pulley go. Spreads the torque. Summit and Jegs have them.

You may need to do lots of trial and error to get the distributor to drop in. Look up "walk" or "walking" in the archives for more on this. It will go in eventually. Before it finally goes, though, it may have you talking to yourself.

[Jim L.]

Re: Oil Primer Question

Jim - I am going to start with my HEI distributor then will add my 891 distributor and 091 coil after break in.

If you can see the reluctor or whatever an HEI distributor uses as a timing device, I guess you could start with the HEI. Seems to me it would be dramatically more difficult to get the timing in the ballpark than it is with a points-type distributor.

With points, you can absolutely positively measure the instant the points break contact and lock the distributor housing in that position.

Can I insert the HEI distributor 6 degrees BTDC and get it to drop in then turn it so it is just at the #1 cylinder when at TDC ?

It is the balancer that needs to be rotated until it is at approximately 6 degrees BTDC.

Then, while the balancer is in this position, do what you have to do with the pump shaft position so the distributor will drop in and seat on the manifold.

Finally with the distributor seated, rotate the body of the distributor counter clockwise until the points just begin to open or the HEI reluctor is pointing at the pick up coil (or whatever triggering mechanism they use).


Jim

[Mark P.]

Re: Oil Primer Question

Timothy - this is an aftermarket HEI distributor going on a 1960. There is no clear windows.

Jim - when I swapped out my non-OEM points distributor for the HEI it was straightforward and the car easily started. I just put it at TDC with the rotor aligned with the #1 cylinder on the cap and removed the old distributor and dropped in the HEI without disturbing the engine position and made sure the rotor was still in front of the #1 cylinder.


Thanks for all your help. I'm sure this seems like an the kind of question that I shouldn't have to ask. I am just a bit nervous with starting a rebuilt motor and don't want to damage it because I got the distributor in wrong. The combination of non-OEM parts makes it tricky at times. I'll soon be 100% OEM and then all the materials in my books will be completely relevant.

[Tommy F.]

Re: Oil Primer Question

I got tired of singeing my eyebrows from guessing about initial timing.
At the track, we would roll the motor until the balancer had some "reasonable" initial advance (6-8 btdc), turn the ignition swith on, and slowly turn the distributor until the #1 plug sparked....This takes all of the guesswork out of it.

I was always amazed at some racers with big inch engines guessing, and cranking until backfire. Man, my ears are still ringing!

[Mark P.]

Re: Oil Primer Question

Tommy - that makes a lot of sense. I'll do it that way. When I install my dual points distributor I'll watch the points.

Mark

[Tommy F.]

Re: Oil Primer Question

Tommy - that makes a lot of sense. I'll do it that way. When I install my dual points distributor I'll watch the points.

Mark

It was so long ago that it WAS with dual points!