Nice and simple question:
I'm gonna restart my chevelle in the next couple of days. I've had the heads off to redo gaskets, etc. I'm worried about killing a cam lobe on building back up pressure in the lifters. What's the best way to get the lifters pumped back up without wiping a lobe on the cam, before I actually let it kick over and run?

Thanks,
Tony
68 Chevelle 400

Use an oil priming tool (in place of the distributor) with valve covers off (so you can see the oil seep from the rockers). Set at TDC #1 and spin priming tool, watch for oiling of rockers. Rotate crank 90 degrees and do it again, repeat till you get back to #1 TDC. Replace distributor and fire it up. Keep idle at 2000 or above for 10 minutes or so. (The cam 'splash' lubes the lobes so keep the rpm up and don't idle down. MOST important, don't use a 'screwdrive' type blade to prime with, it won't oil the upper end, you need a correct priming tool or modified distributor.

Thanks d1_bradley.

Only one more thing I'm really concerned about. I just put the rocker arms back on, so I imagine they could either be too loose or the worst too tight. Should I adjust these manually the old way before starting it up?

Tony
'68 Chevelle 400

You bet, adjust them PRIOR to starting. Use the method in this post....http://www.chevelles.com/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=010440

would it be a good idea to squirt some oil in the cylinders and give them time to lube the ring a bit. it seems likely that there would be some rust in the cylinders. just a thought.

Thanks again a ton guys, you guys hit it all 100% on the head. I'm gonna adjust the valves manually. I'm gonna do the oil in the cylinders too. It's been 2-3 months since I put the heads back on, and I tried to get the surface rust out the best I could at the time by using oil and wd40 and pb blaster. I've only rotated the engine 4 revolutions by hand when dropping in the distributor and when putting on the balancer. It was pretty easy to turn it even with the spark plugs in, but I'm gonna squirt the oil in to ease the engine back into running-rpm.

Thanks a ton again guys,
Tony
'68 Chevelle 400 (getting ready to re-emerge again )

I have one more question in relation to this that I think I know, just wanna make sure.

I'm planning on adjusting the valves with the engine off, bringing up oil pressure, then starting and running. Will I need to re-adjust the valves with it running or afterwards, or is adjusting the valves that one time where it hasn't run in a year the only adjustment i'll need to do?

I read somewhere that hydraulic lifters bleed down when the engine is turned off, and since they haven't been disturbed while i had the heads off, i'd think i'd adjust it just like it's only been off for a couple of days.

Tony
'68 Chevelle 400

Tony, whether you have the intake still off or not, I would stop by a GM dealer and spend he $6.50 on a bottle of EOS for piece of mind. If the mani is off pour it right down onto the cam. If its on, I ( because i'm paranoid )rigged a hand held oil can with a clean washer hose and got the hose in the galley through the oil drain backs in the heads and lubed up the cam nice and good.

This will also help with bearing wear, etc.

I havent messed with hyd lifters in 25 years, but why dont you double check a few valve settigns AFTER you prime the motor. When I primed mine, I'd let it run for a minute or so, rotate the crank by hand, another minute, and so forth for each 90 of rotation.