I'm almost ready to light off my 292. I was going to build an oil pump primer out of my 230 distributor, but it grew legs or got tossed out. I went and got one from the loan-a-tool place. Well dern, it only works on vee things. Some folks on other sites spoke of pros and cons on using a cut down screwdriver on the veez. Apparantly the vee things have an oil gallery in the distributor well that use the ring on the tool to aid in moving oil to the lifters or something like that. Is that the case for 230 250 292? Also, are there dedicated GM inline oil primers? Will a screwdriver on a drill do just fine?
There is a bushing in the block, that you may or may not have just replaced. It's just above the oil pump and guides the bottom of dist shaft. A screw driver shaft will work, but you don't want one that will tear up the bushing. I have an old push rod that I use. I welded the hole on the end closed and ground flats on the sides of the tip. The rest of it is smooth and works well without damaging the bushing. The oil gally thing only applies to Chevy V's.
I did the same basic thing with a cheap flat blade screwdriver that had a round shank. Cut the handle off, ground the sides of the tip even with the shank, chucked it into a power drill, and, Presto!, instant oil pump priming tool for a Chevy six.
God doesn't like ugly.
