Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-05-2019, 10:15 AM   #1
37 truck
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Omak, Washington
Posts: 205
Default Priming engine with oil

I had my flathead rebuilt about five years ago, and finally am getting close to starting it. I want to prime the engine with oil before starting. Everything was well coated with assembly lube, The engine is in the truck, and the pan is on so I can't pre prime the oil pump. Ideas like adding oil through the pressure gauge location have been discussed. Ideas?
37 truck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 10:41 AM   #2
Jack E/NJ
Senior Member
 
Jack E/NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,171
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

Yep, that's what I've ever done. Just stick a funnel in there and let a quart or two slowly percolate down in there. Others have use a small drill pump. Jack E/NJ
Jack E/NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 07-05-2019, 10:50 AM   #3
RalphM
Senior Member
 
RalphM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: North Pole, Alaska
Posts: 2,646
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

Napa sells an inexpensive oil pump that is used with a drill motor.
RalphM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 11:41 AM   #4
Kube
Senior Member
 
Kube's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 8,938
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

I use a unit that is very similar to a brake bleeding unit. I attach where the oil sending unit is mounted. This will push oil though all of the bearings, etc.

I started doing this to every engine I've rebuilt since the 1970's. Some with hydraulic lifters... this will push oil through them, the push rods, etc. Not a concern with a flatty but just an example of how well it works.
I am confident you could buy one of these quite reasonably these days at Harbor Freight, etc.
__________________
"I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".
Kube is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 01:45 PM   #5
alanwoodieman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: upstate SC
Posts: 2,962
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

I took a short length of plastic pipe 2" x 10" put cap on one end drilled for a fitting that matched the oil pressure fitting in the block, put a screw in plug on the other end with a air hose hole--attach hose to block, fill pipe with oil, screw in plug, blow low pressure air thru the hole 30lbs and that pushes the oil into the engine
alanwoodieman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 01:57 PM   #6
51504bat
Senior Member
 
51504bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SoCal-Redlands
Posts: 2,998
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Posted this over on the HAMB in response to a similar question:
Years ago the machinist at the local parts store used an old pressure bleeder tank for a pre-oiler. Dumped 5 qts. of oil in the bleeder tank which was connected to the engine with an oil fitting on the block and a shut off valve, pressurized the tank to 40 psi, opened the valve and instant oil pressure at start up. I made one for my 8ba start up from an old paint pot. For some reason didn't work as well as the brake bleeder set up but it got the job done. I've also heard of using a hand pump garden sprayer to achieve the same results.
Here is the link to the thread on the HAMB: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...#post-13148028
__________________
Making the simple complicated for over 30 years.

Last edited by 51504bat; 07-05-2019 at 01:59 PM. Reason: Add link
51504bat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 04:41 PM   #7
Kerk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 642
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

The only thing I can add is to tunn the engine Slowly while pressuring the system . Always did it on fresh rebuilds . Helps to have someone to do the turning. Run 3 or 4 quarts this way. Kerk
Kerk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 08:25 PM   #8
Step-down
Senior Member
 
Step-down's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Hat City (Danbury CT)
Posts: 647
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

I bougth one of those plastic pump bug sprayer for garden store , added oil to the pump and threaded to the block where the oil sending unit would go. I pumped one Qt of oil into the block just before I fire her up. Primed the whole system and had oil pressure right away.
__________________
"I can't cry as long as I know the Lord has risen "
Step-down is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2019, 01:25 PM   #9
supereal
Senior Member
 
supereal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,634
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

Adding oil allows it to flow down and through the valve chamber. Cranking a short time before turning on the ignition usually provides enough priming. The positive displacement oil pump does a good job. That is one reason old Fords have lasted so long.
supereal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2019, 05:48 AM   #10
Frank Miller
Senior Member
 
Frank Miller's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Auburn, MA
Posts: 2,106
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

If you're running a stock filter then put a hose over the center tube with the filter out and fill the canister with oil. The oil will slowly drain back through the pump and it will be primed ready to go. The rest I just poured in the fill hole.
__________________
“The technique of infamy is to start two lies at once and get people arguing heatedly over which is true.” ~ Ezra Pound
Frank Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2019, 10:36 AM   #11
37 truck
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Omak, Washington
Posts: 205
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

Thanks for your reply's, sense we are on the subject of oil, what is everyone using as a break-in oil these days?
37 truck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2019, 12:34 PM   #12
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

Now you've done it!
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2019, 04:18 PM   #13
A bones
Senior Member
 
A bones's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: CLAYTON DE
Posts: 1,280
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

How about anything you want to drain out in A hundred or so miles?
__________________
Enjoy yer day. Tom
Hate can't fix what it started.
A bones is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-27-2020, 08:30 AM   #14
russcc
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,871
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

Clean oil
russcc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-27-2020, 05:25 PM   #15
drolston
Senior Member
 
drolston's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Posts: 1,623
Default Re: Priming engine with oil

If it has been five years since the rebuild, it is likely that the cam assembly lube has run off of the lobes. To minimize the possibility of cam wear during break-in, I would recommend VR1 racing oil, which has a lot of zinc in it. After the 500 mile break-in and the subsequent oil change, you can switch to any good oil to get the detergent additives, which VR-1 does not have.
drolston is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:44 PM.