new engine start up?

[hughesdt]

The one that I borrowed looked like a metal oil can. Filled it with oil screwed a hose into the pressure sender and used compressed air to force the oil into the engine. I too was told, from a reputable mechanic, to do this before starting the motor. I have never done this before with chevy engines I have rebuilt, but I did fill their oil pumps with grease so that they where not dry on start up and be able to pull oil up to the pump. Since I couldn't really get to the inside of the oil pump on the Vehicross I figured I'd take the advice.

[89Vette]

Yes, pack the oil pump with grease during assembly...

For my SBC 383, I used the poor man's method. I pulled the plugs and cranked the motor. It spins very quickly w/o compression and the starter does a decent job of showing you if oil pressure builds as expected. I can't remember that the VX has a gauge to confirm when the oil is "loaded". My vette has a digital gauge. It took about 20 seconds to fully prime.

I'm on it's 3rd year and going strong...so it worked fine.

[hughesdt]

No gauge for oil pressure unless it was added after-market. And I don't believe that the starter, even with out the plugs, will spin fast enough to build up enough pressure to turn off the oil pressure light.