6x Head ID

Pontiac Pre-oiling Tool for Engine Break-In

New rebuilt engine? New heads and hydraulic cam? Engine sitting for years? If so, consider pre-oiling the engine before start-up or break-in.

You can make your own tool inexpensively. What you will need:

1. An old Pontiac distributor core with shaft

2. Brass rod (or steel) with a diameter that will fit the top shaft of the old distributor

3. 8-32 set screw and allen wrench to fit it

4. #29 drill bit to drill the top shaft of the old distributor for the set screw

4. 8-32 tap to thread the top shaft for the set screw

5. Hacksaw to cut the brass pipe (steel rod) to length

Remove the distributor gear. It is not needed.

What was used was a 8-32 set screw. Any small set screw can be used as long as you have the correct drill bit and tap. The drill bit was #29, and the tap a 8-32.

A small hole was drilled into the flat side of the distributor shaft. This is where the rotor resides. Once the hole was drilled the hole was tapped for the 8-32 set screw.

Why brass rod? it was available from other home projects. The rod was prefitted to the shaft and it fit perfectly. All was needed was a set screw to lock it into place. The brass rod measured .374" in diameter and it was cut to 3.25" using a hacksaw. Brass is soft and cuts easily but is plenty tough for this tool. I drilled a slight dimple in the rod to seat the set screw.

Here is the final assembly. The brass shaft will fit a 1/4" reversable drill. Note: pre-oiling requires the unit to mate with the slot on the oil pump and should be locked down just like your working distributor. Rotation is always counter-clockwise on a Pontiac engine. Make sure you reverse the drill.