I have always use a big screwdriver with the handle cut off. Or, a large screwdriver bit adapted onto an socket extension that will fit in the drill chuck.

My friends dad used to have an old hand crank drill dedicated to this job.

 

That is exactly what I'm about to do. I'm going to cut the handle off of a longer cheap flat head screwdriver that I got from Big Lots, and putting it in a drill. The shaft of the screwdriver that I have is hex instead of round, so I expect that should be just fine in the drill. I've also looked at several local stores, and no one seems to carry them. One guy recommended me to take an old distributer and pull the rod out of it. Might work if I had spare distributors laying around.

 

I fashioned one from 1/2" round stock and ground the end to mimic the distributer shaft. If you don't have a 1/2" chuck drill, then rotationally grind down the other end to where it will chuck up to a 3/8" chuck. Worked great for me. Here is a pic. The top one is a shaft from a dead distributer, the bottom one is the one I made to fit a 3/8" chuck drill made from 1/2" round stock.

 

I changed my oil pump not too long ago. I just filled the pump with oil as I installed it. Make sure the pump freely spins by hand, I bought one, the shaft was turning really tight for some reason, returned it for another, and that one spun fine, not sure why it was like that. The oil just falls back to the bottom anyways, but the pump tool is a good way to test the system before you start it. I really did not want to take my distributor off at the time, and was certain I had alligned the pump shaft onto the bottom of the distributor properly. You will see when you take the pan off, and remove the pump, how it all works, pretty simple, just be mindful of it. I think if I were to do it again, I would buy a new pump with the pick-up pipe already attached to it. That was the hardest part for me, getting the tube off the old pump, and pressing it into the new pump, kind of a pita. There is a tension on the pump shaft as well if I remember correctly. Probably even if you did not allign the shaft with the distributor, as soon as you spun the starter, it would turn the shaft, and pop into place, but I am certainly not advising that, obviously line it up, and you will see as you are placing the pump up in there.

 

As soon as I started mine I jumped into the cab and watched the pressure rise immidiately just in case, but it came right up real fast, no delays.

 

Well, I was already in the cab.

 

Long screw driver from HF cut off is how a friend of mine did his. Helped him put his motor back in a few years back. Started right up with pressure instantly.

 

i use an old distributor, cut off the top portion and it leaves a nice shaft just small enough to fit my cordless dewalt drill. simple as dropping the 'dummy' distributor in and letting the drill do the work. It's especially nice since the distributor fits in perfectly and you don't have to fuss with the screwdriver slipping off the whole time .

 

Pack the oil pump with vaseline before you install it, no priming needed.

 

pull wires off plugs and lead from alternator to ignition. Crank.

or the screw driver route.

 

Drive tang, like on the 242ci? If so, get the SBChevvy priming rod and remove the guide sleeve on the end (it's just retained with a roll pin.) Problem solved.

 

Thanks for all the great ideas. Looks like the screwdriver trick will do it. The reason I need to prime it ( and get oil thru out the engine ) is its a remanufactured enigne. They test the engine and oiling prior to shipping by spinning it and this removes all the assembly lube just like if you were starting it for the first time. So you have to prelube the enigne prior to starting it or you get a dry start that can cause exessive wear. using the starter and removing the plugs would still cause dry start.

 

I know so many people who just start it and go but priming it is the right way to do it and not cranking the engine. Bottom line is that you won't ever know if you did damage but when your at 100,000 and oil pressure is low and its blowing blue smoke it just may of been cause by not priming it. Its worth the time to do. Glad to see you found something to work.

 

My homemade solution

Hey guys just thought I'd pass along my method. Harbor freight screwdrivers have a hex pattern at the end of the handle thats 15mm so all you need is a 15mm socket and a drill chuck with the right socket adapter and you're in business. See below:

 

Pictures

here's the pic