[Philip Parker]

Hey everyone - I am doing the finishing touches on an L29 build for my truck and in order to get the lifters filled I had to install them and prime the engine. I am noticing a lot of oil coming from the lifters on the driver side compared to the passenger side, and a lot of oil coming out of the distributor bore that has the priming tool in it.

When I install the distributor will the passenger side lifters see an increase in flow? Oil pump is a new Melling high volume.

Thanks!

 

[William Hennke]

Throw the priming tool in the trash and cut up an old distributor and use it for a priming tool.

 

[Philip Parker]

Throw the priming tool in the trash and cut up an old distributor and use it for a priming tool.

Is that what's going on? Does the distributor alter the gallery pathways?

 

[William Hennke]

There is a grove at the bottom of the distributor housing that lines up with the oil passage in the block. That's why you see all that oil coming out. That oil passage in the block goes to the lifters.

 

[BillK]

Phillip,
If your priming tool does not have the lower collar that blocks the oil galleys off then you will not get oil to both sides. I have attached a picture of the correct tool.

 

[Philip Parker]

Phillip,
If your priming tool does not have the lower collar that blocks the oil galleys off then you will not get oil to both sides. I have attached a picture of the correct tool.

Thanks Bill! - The tool I am using does have a collar on the bottom that matches the distributor shape almost identically. Perhaps it isn't seated correctly though. I'm going to go inspect it now.

 

[BillK]

Maybe compare it to your distributor to make sure it is made properly.

 

[Philip Parker]

Maybe compare it to your distributor to make sure it is made properly.

Thats exactly the problem. The distance from where the tool engages the pump to the collar is wrong so that the "gallery" groove on the collar is below the pump output hole in the distributor bore essentially blocking it off. Thanks for your help guys.

 

[BillK]

Just curious, Which tool do you have so I can make sure and tell people not to get it

 

[Philip Parker]

Just curious, Which tool do you have so I can make sure and tell people not to get it

I have this one form JEGS - JEGS 23640: Oil Pump Priming Tool for Small & Big Block Chevy V8 | JEGS

 

[shovelrick]

Don't you need to rotate the engine too to get the other bank to show oil?

 

[BillK]

Don't you need to rotate the engine too to get the other bank to show oil?

Sometimes it helps but in this case with his tool not blocking the oil galley, the passenger side will never get oil.

 

[SFD]

I used the same tool and I got it out of both sides.

 

[William Hennke]

Thanks Bill! - The tool I am using does have a collar on the bottom that matches the distributor shape almost identically. Perhaps it isn't seated correctly though. I'm going to go inspect it now.

Like I said, throw the priming tool out and use an old distributor. I had one of those priming tools and they dont seal up correctly.

 

[69-CHVL]

I actually just primed my L29 with the EXACT tool BillK has listed and I have 60psi of oil pressure using a drill, and oil out of every rocker.

It did take a little longer for some rockers to get oil.

 

[69-CHVL]

Don't you need to rotate the engine too to get the other bank to show oil?

I would do this for sure...if anything it makes me feel better to do lol.