Need advice on starting rebuilt engine

I did the V8 swap. Some of you may remember I had the wrong size bell-housing installed and I finally have everything back together. I had asked the guy who built my engine to help me with initial start-up but have not heard back from him and I'm tired of playing games with. So I'm getting some final things together, timing tab and timing tape for instance. From a little research here on this site I know I need to prime the oil pump thru the distributor shaft but what are some other things I'll need to do or have? The fuel tank was taken out and resealed inside and out over 5 years ago and has been dry until I just stuck 10 gallons in. I've never done this but I think I can handle it with some tips and advice.

 

Prime the engine with a drill, I used a 1/4" drive ratchet extension and the correct socket that fits the hex of the oil pump drive shaft, can't remember what size it is. I used two or three extensions to make it long enough, tape them togethor so they can't come apart and drop into the engine. If I remember right you run the drill in reverse. Run it until oil comes up through the rocker arms. It would also be good if you fill the carb float bowl with gas to start it up quicker and have a timing light ready to set the timing and then let it idle for a while to break in the cam if it isn't a roller.

 

Definitely pre-lube the engine.
Put fuel in the float bowl of the carb as Ryan stated.
If its a roller cam engine...Ignore the following sentence.
Idle the engine between 1000 an 2000 RPM for 20 minutes.(Vary the idle over the course of the 20 minutes between the two RPM ranges) Now will be a good time to fill/burp your cooling system. I allways use water for the initial run in. (its cheaper than coolant) Especially if you discover a leak or three.
Do you have a timing light??? If so set your timing, dont matter which cyl you use(#1 is best though) with your light hooked up and the ignition on and cyl of your choice about 15 deg before TDC ...slightly turn the dist housing till the timing light flashes(note how much you moved it) Back it off till just before the light flashes and it should fire immediately on start up.Once it runs,set the timing and adjust the carb so the thing will idle and run without fail for the break in of the cam.Watch oil pressure if you have a guage and engine temp closely during run in.Good luck!!!

 

If you use the screwdriver extensions for a drill, that accept screwdriver bits, that is the correct size that snaps right onto your oil pump. I think it is still 1/4"

I used 3 magnetic ones in line, 3-4" long each, running drill in reverse.

Use a wired drill. It sucks lots of juice and will eat up a battery powered drill in seconds.

Flat tappet or roller lifters? Hopefully roller.

If flat, get some COMP flat tappet additive for the oil.

 

The hex on the pump shaft is 5/16" on a 302 and 3/8" on a 351.

 

If you don't know which way the engine oil pump runs don't offer advice. Sheesh.

 

Cool, I appreciate all of this info so fast! I have a Holley 600 4bl carb so i have 2 bowls right? Exactly where do i pour the gas in?

 

No...Put fuel in the 2 tubes sticking above the other stuff.
2 shotglasses full in each bowl should be enough to get you going...

 

OK -thanks! Good thing i'm asking these thing eh?

 

Alright I had to dig out some paperwork because i wasn't sure about your cam question. I have an Edelbrock 7122 cam kit and Magnum Roller Rocker Arms by Comp Cams. Is this a roller cam then?

 

Roller rockers can be put on an engine with either roller cam or flat tappet. It would have to be determined based on the cam number. (I didn't look that up...going to shut down and have a drink )

 

Its a hydeaulic flat tappet cam...Not a roller cam.
Check your rocker arms...Eledbrock does not recommend using a ratio larger than the stock 1.6:1

 

Thanks - I was just reading on the web the difference between the two. I had no clue, glad i know now. I don't have a timing light but i'm going to pick one up, i also need a pointer and timing tape. Once i have these thing i can give it a whirl

 

Seriously?!! If you arent' contributing to the comversation then maybe you shouldn't be offering the advice, or opinion. Atleast I stated I wasn't exactly sure of something instead of just throwing info. And in the end, I WAS right.

Now back to being productive... Did you or a shop install the roller rockers? Are they roller tips or full roller rockers? If they are full roller rockers they will need to be adjusted once the motor is running and the lifters are pumped up. A shop can usually preset these enough to get it running if they built the motor but will need some adjusting once its running.

 

I was looking at the picture you posted and noticed that the wire that says temp on it is on a sensor but the hole it is in is intake manifold vacuum so unless you are measuring the temp of vacuum it isnt going to do you much good.

The pump drive shaft on a 302 is 1/4" if it is 5/16 it isnt going to fit in your distributor