[Derekm803]

Hey, all. I'm getting a 389 ready to go back in my 66 Catalina. I'm at the point of priming the oiling system. The pump is pumping the oil up fine enough to the rockers but it is working the hell out of my drill. I mean to the point of overheating it. I took the old points distributor and stripped it to use for driving the pump. Used the distributor hold down to lock it in. I really don't think the oil pump should have this much resistance but don't know for sure, honestly. Its dragging so much that when I stop turning it, it will recoil n turn backwards a little bit. Any advice from experienced members on if this is normal or not would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[64speed]

Is it a 1/2 drill

[Derekm803]

It's a melling pump that came with it from the builder . I have a bottle of Lucas, couple bottles of the start up/zinc additive oil(flat tappet cam) and SAE30 non detergent oil in it. It's pumping up to about 70psi on the gauge, not at full speed on the drill. It doesn't come out of any of the rockers with alit of force, just a steady trickle. 1 or 2 getting low flow til I turn the motor over a little w the ratchet. But it is really working that drill, overheating it.

[Derekm803]

Yeah. It's a skill 1/2 in combo drill you can switch to hammer drill if you want. I haven't used it in a really long time if that matters but that pump is def working it.

[b-man]

Normal.

The pump isn’t going to be easy to run especially with cold oil not to mention with thicker oil weights.

These oil pumps are made to put out much more than the engine needs, the excess is bypassed through a passage using a relief spring and ball.

[steve25]

Hydro lifters will not move but a dribble of oil to the top of the push rod unless they are being cycled.

[Dragncar]

You are fine. I pumped 100 lbs with a drill and it still took awhile to get oil to the rockers.

[Derekm803]

This is my first time doing it. Def didnt expect the pump to be that tight. It dogged down when it started picking up that oil. Seems like it'd be a drag on the motor being that hard on big drill like that.

[george kujanski]

Definitely loads the drill.

George

[tom s]

1/4 the balancer a couple times when priming.That will get oil up to all the rockers.Tom

[grivera]

What oil viscosity?

[Derekm803]

Yeah, Ive been turning it a little at a time and running the pump in between. I put in SAE30 and a bottle of Lucas.

[Dragncar]

I went to 10-30 break in oil and the pressure dropped 20 lbs.

[TedRamAirII]

Originally Posted by Derekm803

Yeah, Ive been turning it a little at a time and running the pump in between. I put in SAE30 and a bottle of Lucas.

Lucas is just a oil thickener, just snake oil. Motor oil does not need "additives"

[wakesupremo]

I had a makita battery drill. wouldn't even turn the pump. Switched to my Mikwaukee drill and, yes it struggled but, got the oil around.

[Dragncar]

Originally Posted by TedRamAirII

Lucas is just a oil thickener, just snake oil. Motor oil does not need "additives"

Its not snake oil. It leaves a sticky film on all your engine parts and it helps a great deal for engines that sit for long periods of time.
And Pontiacs these days do a lot of sitting.

[64speed]

Originally Posted by Dragncar

Its not snake oil. It leaves a sticky film on all your engine parts and it helps a great deal for engines that sit for long periods of time.
And Pontiacs these days do a lot of sitting.

Lucas products in general have saved me several headaches

[Scott Stoneburg]

It will definitely work even a good 1/2 drill. I have an old Makita 1/2" drill I use, it does the job but loads the drill significantly. Nothing to worry about it being a drag on the motor, the electric drill is fractional HP compared to your motor
My drill is rated at 8.5 amps.
8amps @ 120V = 1.16 HP

[steve25]

Ted I think your showing that your quite misguided with that comment and I want to ask for evidence in support of this .

[sdbob]

As others have said 1/2" drill I always used a HD drill, Milwaukee,or old SearsHD. I'm no expert I would ck length of oil pump shaft if new,with distributor. How I've never had a problem that needed ckg soo. Not sure. Others with more experience may comment.