priming oil pump on Dodge 440

[tommo]

Hi folks,
Any 440 Dodge experts?
I read the great article on starting old motor homes.  I have purchased a '78 winnie 26' rk.
I have oiled and moved the engine.  I would like to prime the motor by spinning the oil pump with my drill.  Everything went fine except the oil pump gears mesh with the camshaft.
That's not gonna turn with a drill.  I don't want to force anything,I'm also leary of trying to reposition the pump or anything like that.I don't want anything to become apart internally.
Any ideas or just start the motor,and hope the oil pressure comes up fast?
I'm hoping to get this baby going this week.

Thanks for your input
Tom Morrison

[jkilbert]

my tool of choice for this is an old distributer shaft with the cam gear knocked off. i have one for each of the big 3 that i have made over time. otherwise i think that Summit Racing and Jegs both sell these. theyre pretty cheap and both placed ship fast.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DCC-4286800/

here's the one from Summit.....$8

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

The problem with a Mopar is that the oil pump/distributor gear is not attached to the distributor.  After removing the distributor you have to remove the gear and oil pump shaft also.  You can then use the special long "Oil pump priming tool".  Here is a thread talking about this http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?t=12025.  Taking your time and getting things lined back up will be you major concerns.
See Figure 61 on page 9-53 of the service manual.  It shows the shaft that goes into the oil pump.  The distributor shaft fits into the end of that shaft at the gear end.

A good conceptual view is in the parts manaul on page 9-2 for the 318 engine.  The distributor shaft (Part ID 3) drops into the gear/shaft assembly (Parts ID 57/59).

Dave

[tommo]

Great info thanks for the help
Tom Morrison

[tommo]

Dave
Thanks for the info, that what makes this a great site.
Next question:
I'm  suposed to remove the shaft and drive gear through the tiny hole availible of the distributor?
Looks difficult.  Have you done this?
Tom

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

No, I have never done this.  I have removed the distributor but never went deeper so I knew the gear was not attached to the distributor.  So, I went a googling for the answer.  Unless someone weighs in with more information you will have to slowly work through this on your own.

Dave

[tommo]

Thanks for the quick reply.
The info was priceless.
Tomorrow I do it.