I just finished rebuilding my 440. I tried to prime the oil system before I installed the valve covers. when I spin the oil pump with the drill, I get about 50# of pressure and I can see moving around the lifter area but after several minutes I still haven't gotten any oil up into the rockers. I'm sure I have the rocker shafts installed right. I have even removed a bolt from the shaft towers and oil does not appear to be getting up there. The oil is pretty cold. Is this normal and will it get up into the rockers after its started? Has anybody run into this before?

 

Since the Mopar block get its oil from holes in the block, you need to slowly turn the engine over by hand while you drill (spin) the oil pump. The engine needs to rotate the pistons and valvetrain to get sufficient oil to the rockers

 

66 is right
turn the engine over by hand

 

Hey 66, thanks. I never used a drill and shaft to prime before. Used to crank the engine over after I installed it to prime it. I turned the crank two complete revs with the drill running and had plenty of oil to the rockers.

 

no problem glad i could help

 

That is good information, especially as I have a 440 I hope to fire up in the next week or two. Thanks alot!