I will likely get to breaking in the motor this weekend, or the next. I have some problem getting the distributor in while the fuel rails are installed. I need to prime the oil system since it sat for 6 months now, but I also need to pressure and leak test the fuel system before fire up. I don't want to remove the rails once I test the fuel system because that will mean a mess of flamible fuel all over my motor which scares me a little bit. So I'm thinking I'll prime the oil system then install the distribute then try to get the fuel system plumbed up and pressure tested. But I don't know if I can do that quickly, and if I run into issues on the fuel or follow up work, the engine may sit for a day or even more before I'm ready again. I know this isn't ideal, hence why I'm asking what is too long for waiting between priming the oil system and the first fire up?

If this is a big problem, can I safely turn the motor over on the starter with plugs out, fuel off and spark off to try get a reasonably fresh prime before going for broke?

Greg

You should be fine.

Cool. I know it gets much worse down times over those long winters, but wasn't sure if a completely fresh motor might take more offense to that. I don't want to wipe out fresh bearings etc...

Well ...if you are waiting a day or so to fire-up ....I would prime(with the new and improved PVC coated rod ) and bar the motor over a couple of times with the pump running.

All primed and ready to run. Ran it on the starter doing compression test and tryoing to get a low RPM timing check (didn't work stilly light), and oil presure gets up to about 60 just on the starter alone. That's a bit more than that last build which did about 40-50 on the starter. Hope that's not a sign of clearances that are too tight. Unless a switch from solid to a solid roller can account for that somehow or a better cranking RPM.

Should be fine. Once the pump is primed, filter full, and oil at the rocker gear it could probbably sit for a week or two. It's not ideal, but just think of all those who fire up new engines without priming the oil system at all..

As long as you have a roller cam, it isn't as sensitive. Excessive turning of the engine with a new flat tappet setup is hard on the lobes/lifters. I prefer the oil prime within a few hours of starting a new engine, but I don't think it is a hard and fast rule.

When you do prime it, turn the engine over a few revolutions while turning the oil pump with the drill motor.

so 13 months is too long?