do you have to prime the oil pump after an engine swap? If so how?

 

If it's a fresh rebuild its certainly a good idea... I used a GM oil pump priming tool similar to the one below and my dewalt variable speed drill. It drops in place of the distributor and connects to the pump drive shaft so you can spin the pump once you have it all together / full of oil, etc.



FYI most parts houses will have them to buy or rent.

 

We used to just use and old distributor and hook a drill onto the shaft. Also you can just crank the engine over with the ignition coil wire off so the engine does not fire. You just need a good strong battery and maybe a jump starter this way. Not the best way but it does prime the pump and get the oil where it needs to go. Oh yeah i forgot. the old distributor needs to have the cam gear removed or it wont turn.

 

ditto on the old distributor - it also works well for lineing up the oil pump shaft for distributor install

 

Thanks for all the tips I found the priming tool and primed it with drill. The engine is running firing great my last concern is I have uneven oil coming through the push rods. There pretty even except one pushrod is spraying it past the fender…is the oil gallery plugged. I used the old push rods on the new heads should I have replaced them?

 

they are not going to spray even - not even with a fresh rebuild - if the valves are set put the valve covers on - quit over thinking and worryin about it and enjoy it

 

Lol love you answer hard not to worry basically rebuilt it from the ground up but will take your advice and go for a drive