1965 Cadillac 429 priming the oil pump (1963 thru 1967 probably similar)

[Scot Minesinger]

Replacing the timing chain on a 1965 Cadillac.  Have done this job on the 472/500 five times, and this is my first 429.  As you know oil pump must come off.  Wondering best way to prime the oil pump, as in this area the shop manual for the 472/500 engine was not best practice to me.

On the 472/500 engine best way to me was to remove distributor and use a drill with screw driver (I used an old dist.) to drive the oil pump until it was primed and then for a few minutes more to get it all oiled up.  You could easily tell that the pump was primed by the major drag on the drill.  Shop manual says to pack pump with petroleum jelly - and who knows.

Anyway, should I just follow the shop manual or is there a better way?

[35-709]

I do it your way with the drill motor.  First time I did it (on a 429) I had forgotten to put the oil filter on and was soon standing in a puddle of oil!        Of course I would never admit to doing such a thing!  Fill the filter with oil as much as you can and pour some down the distributor hole before pulling the trigger on the drill motor --- betcha it will pick it up pretty quick.

[Dave Shepherd]

You can pack the pump with vasoline, that works also.

[russ austin]

I take the oil filter boss off and pour oil directly into the pump cavity. Fill the filter and away you go.  What ever way you decide, never run the pump empty. There is metal to metal contact down there, so you need the lube.

[bcroe]

I would connect a high pressure hose between the oil pressure
switch ports on the 429 and a car.  With the 429 a quart low,
run the car 20 seconds and shut down to see how much oil
has transferred to the 429.  Perhaps run it again till a quart
has moved to the 429, enough to completely pressurize the
whole oil system. 

Then I would run the 429 starter 20 seconds or so with no
spark plugs, till a quart was transferred back to the car. 
Then remove the hose, put an oil pressure gauge on the 429,
and check oil pressure using the starter again.  Good, restore
the ports to normal.  Bruce Roe