Building oil pressure

[RDC]

Last fall I blew a hole in a header collector on my 440. Long story short I removed the engine and repaired the header and had them both re-coated. I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to engines, so while the motor was on a stand I had a friend come over and inspect the motor. He told me that there was nothing wrong with the engine, just replace the timing chain as it had too much play in it. I did that, replaced the gaskets and painted the engine. The motor is back in the car now, and my question is what is the best way to prime the oil system before starting the engine. I have filled the crankcase and installed a new oil filter that is prefilled with oil. Do I have to go through the distributor hole? If so how and what is the proper way to re-time the motor? I was told to remove the plugs and crank the engine until oil flowed over the rockers but I'm not sure that would be the best way.
Thanks for all the advice

[myk]

I was thinking removing the plugs or at least the coil wire and crank away.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

[John_Kunkel]

I would prime it through the distributor hole just like a new engine.

[XH29N0G]

.....Do I have to go through the distributor hole? ..

Others will know more about this than I, but I am assuming you mean remove the distributor, remove the distributor gear, slide in a shaft for pre-oiling to rotate the pump with a drill.  I do not know which way the drill should rotate (I think counter clockwise) but would check. I believe the engine needs to be rotated while doing the preoiling so the oil channels with line up to get oil throughout the engine.  

I also think this means that you will have to figure out where TDC is to reinstall you distributor.  If you have to figure out where TDC is, you need to make sure you are on the compression stroke.  I am also not that knowledgeable with this and the first time I did this, I put the distributor in 180 degrees out.  Once you start the car, you will also want to set the timing.

What I cannot advise is how critical the pre-oiling is for your particular fix.

[cudaken]

RDC, you said last fall, 2012? Oh wait, guess we are still in fall! 

Where the main caps and rod caps off? If they where did your friend add a lube to them?

Pre Lubing is the safe way. Here is a link to how I did mine, but it sat for 8 years with out being started.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,101995.0.html

With your only sitting a year, pulling the plugs and cranking should be OK.

Cuda Ken

[RDC]

Ken I didn't remove the caps, I was told the motor was good to go and I didn't take it apart any more then I had to. I'm going to try removing the distributor and using a priming tool on a drill like you did, and then retime the motor, sounds like the best way
Thanks

[RDC]

Also how do you remove the cam gear in order to get the tool into the oil pump?

[XH29N0G]

I think it just lifts out, but it will rotate as it does because it has a gear on top that is meshed with the cam gear.  I think I had the valley pan and intake off when I removed mine, so I do not know if there are any tricks for fishing it out of the hole the distributor goes in.  See what others say.

[cudaken]

Never tried to take one out through the hole. I pulled the intake and valley pan when I did mine, car had sat for a long time and I wanted to make sure nothing had died in the intake.

To get the oil pump drive out I used a screw driver in the slot for the distributor. Think I turned it clockwise, when it started to raise I pulled it out.

Cuda Ken
 

[RDC]

Thanks for the info. This will work well as I haven't put the intake back on yet.

[RDC]

I put everyones advice to use today, and it worked perfectly. Had 70 psi on the gauge. Now to finish putting the car together. Thanks again