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We wired up the engine yesterday so it could be tested. After an entire day of fixing things that shouldn't be broken, i.e., NOS starter with froze up bendix, dead batteries, NOS distributor with a bent shaft and hopelessly corroded points, we did get her to fire on a cup full of gas down the carb.

But I'm wasn't sure the oil pump was doing its thing so I took off the top plate and there was no oil. Is there a way to get it primed without removing the pump again? I heard once about packing the oil pump with petrolatum jelly for an initial prime...anyone else ever heard that?

The way I prime the pump is to remove it and prime manually submerged in clean oil. Turning the shaft until the air bubbles disappear. It is only two bolts and takes little time to do. Make sure you take note of the gear and tang position when you slide it out.. Upon re-installment you should be able to get some oil pressure at cranking speed. I have a mechanical gage. Even with the electric sender you should show pressure when she fires within seconds if all is working..
Did you inspect the sump and pick up? I have seen old relics where the pick up screen is clogged and even disintegrated. My core engine had about .750" of sludge in the bottom when I took it appart. Hope this helps. Keep us posted

The pickup is clean, the block and everything was boiled out. I'll pull the pump.

Either way will work, packing with petroleum jelly will cause it to suck oil, or priming by submerging the pump works also. I've done it both ways. You should be able to get oil pressure by cranking the engine without starting it if everything is primed.

I submerged mine in a bucket of oil and with the ignition off and plugs removed, I spun it over until the gage moved. Put the plugs in and fired her up. I had no delay in oil pressure with this method.

refit1701 wrote:We wired up the engine yesterday so it could be tested. After an entire day of fixing things that shouldn't be broken, i.e., NOS starter with froze up bendix, dead batteries, NOS distributor with a bent shaft and hopelessly corroded points, we did get her to fire on a cup full of gas down the carb.

But I'm wasn't sure the oil pump was doing its thing so I took off the top plate and there was no oil. Is there a way to get it primed without removing the pump again? I heard once about packing the oil pump with petrolatum jelly for an initial prime...anyone else ever heard that?

Couldn't help but notice the issues you mentioned having because of using NOS components. There isn't much NOS stuff out there these days that is worth the asking price. What we have found here is if a component is a good rebuildable core; the best route is to rebuild what you have. Most often when buying NOS, you will find it too must be rebuilt in order to function as it should. Thus you end up spending the purchase price of the NOS item, plus the cost of a rebuild that would have worked just as well using your old part as a core.