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Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. #2400825
11/09/17 01:44 AM
11/09/17 01:44 AM
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Sarasota, Fl
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Scoober Offline OP
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Scoober  Offline OP
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Sarasota, Fl
Hello All,
I want to fire up my 340 that has been sitting in the garage for a good ten years eek After changing the oil, I would like to spin over the oil pump before actually firing the engine.
What is the procedure for re-installing the distributor gear, so that the engine ignition timing will be correct? Especially if I turn over the engine in between pumping?
Or should I not turn the engine over until the gear is back in??
Thank you.... beer

Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: Scoober] #2400849
11/09/17 03:04 AM
11/09/17 03:04 AM
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Pittsburgh,PA
RTSrunner Offline
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Pittsburgh,PA
Before you pull the distributor shaft and drive gear pull the left valve cover.This will allow you to watch the valve movements on #1 cylinder.Rotate the engine to have #1 cylinder on the compression stroke(just after the intake valve closes)piston at TDC on harmonic balancer timing mark. Note distributor rotor position,it should be at the #1 cylinder tower,make a refrerence mark on the dist housing to the block as well.Pull the distributor and note the position of the slot in the intermediate shaft gear,it will probably be parallel with the cylinder banks but not necessarily.Pull the intermediate shaft by rotating it with a large screwdriver or long nose pliers.Prime your oil pump with a hex priming shaft while rotating the crankshaft slowly. When you are done priming rotate the engine to #1 cylinder TDC again watching the valve events.Reinstall the intermediate shaft to its original position,and then the distributor to the same noted position.Install the valve cover fire it up and adjust the timing. You may want to check or replace the fuel pump if it is a mechanical unit after having sat so long,you don't need fuel in the oil!
Good luck,RT

Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: Scoober] #2400853
11/09/17 03:14 AM
11/09/17 03:14 AM
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Anoka County, MN
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Leigh Offline
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When you are installing the intermediate shaft, you can turn it backwards, skipping teeth, until it's in the correct position.

Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: Scoober] #2400855
11/09/17 03:22 AM
11/09/17 03:22 AM
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Lincoln Nebraska
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RapidRobert Offline
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Lincoln Nebraska
Has the cam already been broken in? twist the intergear clockwise with a medium screwdriver & get it to rise up then pull it out with a magnet. you may have to first free it with a pair of strong "L" hooks. turn the dampener to 90 deg BTDC #1 compression & preoil one bank with a 5/16 hex rod turned CW with a drill (there should be (3) partial slits around the dampener at 90 deg intervals in addition to the TDC full slit) then turn the dampener to 20 ATDC #6 compression & preoil the other head then back up the dampener CCW slightly to 15 BTDC. reinstall the inter gear so that you can install the dist with the rotor pointing rearward & slightly toward the drivers side (pull it up CW & reclock it again if need be). with the vac can on the pass side with room to be turned either way, turn the dist slightly so the magnet is lined up with the tooth & snug the housing moderately tight, not loose but can be moved with some effort when it starts & plug in the #6 plug wire in the cap terminal above the rotor & continue around CW from there 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 so 6-5-7 & on around & take the cap off & confirm the rotor is under the #6 cap terminal & a slight bit CW from dead center with it is best (rotor phasing). I would cap the vac adv can line & make a mark on the dampener 2.5" CW from the TDC slit & turn the housing to that when it starts being held to ~2500 RPM (~40 degrees). I would consider pulling the intake & gooping the cam if this is a new cam breakin & I would fog the cyls to lube them, not sure with what, someone mentioned a marine spray oil that is very good but I think even WD40 would suffice. That is all I can think of for now.


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: Scoober] #2400861
11/09/17 03:39 AM
11/09/17 03:39 AM
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Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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Bend,OR USA
Pull the distributor and oil pump drive gear and prime it all you want to.
Once your done with that pull the number one spark plug out and bump the motor a little at a time using the starter, use a helper if needed up with your finger over the spark plug hole and once the compression starts to blow your finger off the hole stop and look at the dampener timing line to see where it is in relation to the TDC marks on the timing tab on the timing cover, if it is before or after move the crankshaft as needed with a socket and breaker bar to align the zero mark on the dampener with the zero mark on the timing tab and then drop in the oil pump drive and align the slot in the pump drive using the factory service manual instructions up
You can also mark the distributor and block with thin alignment marks and then pull the distributor cap off and see where the rotor is pointing to and then make a mark on the dampener and the timing tab on the timing cover and then make sure and return the crankshaft to that position where it started at and put the distributor and oil pump drive back where they where and start the motor up.
Make sure and set the timing to where you want it or maybe to factory specs if you like them work shruggy
I use the stock Mopar settings on the oil pump drives and distributors on all the motors I build to help prevent problems for the customer down the road thumbs


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: Scoober] #2400906
11/09/17 11:15 AM
11/09/17 11:15 AM
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Oregon
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earlymopar Offline
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Oregon
Why pull the distributor at all? Pull one valve cover, the spark plugs and the coil wire and turn the engine over using the starter until you see oil at the heads. Verify timing is still correct while the valve cover is off and then reconnect everything and start the engine.

- EM

Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: earlymopar] #2400908
11/09/17 11:26 AM
11/09/17 11:26 AM
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bean town ....Ca
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WHITEDART Offline
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The only thing I would do would be remove the spark plugs.spray in a healthy load of WD.40. In each plug hole. Crank it with starter till you see the oil gauge move install plugs.. fire it up

Last edited by WHITEDART; 11/09/17 12:51 PM.

In the 8s N/A.with Brett miller W8's
5.07 at 133 at 2700lb
Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: Scoober] #2400985
11/09/17 02:17 PM
11/09/17 02:17 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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I will never try to prime, get oil pressure, by using the starter, even with the plugs out on any motor that has set more then 6 months tsk twocents
When I first started racing at the drag strips in SO CA most of the Chevy guys would have a switch to shut the ignition off so they could spin the motors over on the starters to build oil pressure before every run and before loading or unloading the cars onto the trailers or trucks realcrazy down
Prime it before spinning it twocents


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: Scoober] #2401022
11/09/17 03:43 PM
11/09/17 03:43 PM
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Fulton County, PA
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CMcAllister Offline
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If you're not familiar enough with it to set it up from scratch, bring the engine to TDC on the compression stroke. Note the orientation of the rotor. Should be pointed at #1. Pull the distributor. The drive slot of the drive shaft should be pointed nearly parallel with the centerline of the engine with a slight cant towards #1 cylinder. Pull the shaft, run the pump with a long hex shaft to get oil pressure. You can rotate the engine by hand to get the cam passages lined up and get oil to the heads if you want. Easiest thing will be to rotate the crank 2 revolutions and put the driveshaft and distributor back in just the way they came out.

Don't short cut it and spin it with the starter until you've primed it. Your lifter bores will thank you. A little lube in the plug holes is a good idea. JB80 or oil works.


If the results don't match the theory, change the theory.
Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: Cab_Burge] #2401028
11/09/17 03:53 PM
11/09/17 03:53 PM
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Marion, South Carolina [><]
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Marion, South Carolina [><]
Originally Posted By Cab_Burge
I will never try to prime, get oil pressure, by using the starter, even with the plugs out on any motor that has set more then 6 months tsk twocents
When I first started racing at the drag strips in SO CA most of the Chevy guys would have a switch to shut the ignition off so they could spin the motors over on the starters to build oil pressure before every run and before loading or unloading the cars onto the trailers or trucks realcrazy down
Prime it before spinning it twocents

iagree Using the starter defeats the whole purpose of trying to build oil pressure on a motor that's been sitting for a long time. If it isn't a new build or hasn't been sitting a long time, I see no reason to prime it.


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: an8sec70cuda] #2401067
11/09/17 05:30 PM
11/09/17 05:30 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
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Fulton County, PA
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CMcAllister Offline
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CMcAllister  Offline
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Fulton County, PA
Originally Posted By an8sec70cuda
Originally Posted By Cab_Burge
I will never try to prime, get oil pressure, by using the starter, even with the plugs out on any motor that has set more then 6 months tsk twocents
When I first started racing at the drag strips in SO CA most of the Chevy guys would have a switch to shut the ignition off so they could spin the motors over on the starters to build oil pressure before every run and before loading or unloading the cars onto the trailers or trucks realcrazy down
Prime it before spinning it twocents

iagree Using the starter defeats the whole purpose of trying to build oil pressure on a motor that's been sitting for a long time. If it isn't a new build or hasn't been sitting a long time, I see no reason to prime it.


Actually we used an Accusump (as opposed to spinning the engine) to prime the engine before starting after sitting awhile or even overnight. Engine had pressure when it started. Made a difference in the stuff in the filter. But that's another conversation.


If the results don't match the theory, change the theory.
Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: CMcAllister] #2401145
11/09/17 09:33 PM
11/09/17 09:33 PM
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Lincoln Nebraska
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RapidRobert Offline
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We too used an accusump & primed before every race. If a person wanted the valvetrain to be preoiled it would need to be turned to the (2) sweet spots & preoiled at each one. On an eng sitting for along time I would for sure do it.


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: Scoober] #2401226
11/10/17 01:22 AM
11/10/17 01:22 AM
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Posts: 49
Sarasota, Fl
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Scoober Offline OP
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Sarasota, Fl
THANK YOU ALL for the advice and instruction. I will lube the cylinders and prime it. wrench I have the time. I do need to get the priming tool though.
As usual, this site and it's posters are the best!!! beer

Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: Scoober] #2401318
11/10/17 11:04 AM
11/10/17 11:04 AM
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Oregon
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earlymopar Offline
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Oregon
Have fun. It sounds like there are a few who will be pulling their distributors and priming the pump for cars that just simply are stored through the winter. - EM

Re: Turning oil pump on 340 thru distributor hole. [Re: Scoober] #2401530
11/10/17 07:31 PM
11/10/17 07:31 PM
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Fulton County, PA
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CMcAllister Offline
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Originally Posted By Scoober
THANK YOU ALL for the advice and instruction. I will lube the cylinders and prime it. wrench I have the time. I do need to get the priming tool though.
As usual, this site and it's posters are the best!!! beer


Just a long piece of 5/16 hex. I wrapped the area of the bushing with electrical tape to avoid any accidental damage to it.


If the results don't match the theory, change the theory.






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