I always use the rod down to the oil pump and turn it with the old drill.
Then I make sure the oil is getting to the top of the motor at least with the hydrolic cams. You can get the old petro really flying like that.
I had a motor builder that would over tighten the rockers down with out pre oiling the lifters. I got to his shop to pick up my motor at lunch time when he was out to lunch.
Some other custumers were sitting around talking about how they started up thier new motors and broke rocker arms and flattend cam lobs bent push rods. So the first thing I
did after I picked up my motor was go home and loosen all my rocker arms.
Sure enough I to would have had a broken rocker arm, bent push rod or a flat cam lobe.
And the lifters were not even pumped up with oil, so he didn't soak them or pump them up. You have to watch some of these guys building your motor.
Right away you start thinking what else got messed up during your engine build?
Kurt