I'm building an engine for an Autostick and would like to bench test it before installing it in the car.
I'll install a manual 12V flywheel and bell housing to hold the starter - and block off the vacuum hoses that go to the control valve ...but this question is with respect to the dual pump.
For the bench test, I plan to install and assemble the dual pump but leave out the ATF gears (#9 & #10), the woodruff key (#6), and possibly the outer gasket (#3). As well, I'll add some grease inside the AFT cover (#11) where the shaft (#5) inserts. I may also use regular nuts (#12) and save those fancy red face seal nuts for the final assembly.
Has anyone done this before? Any thoughts as to if this might be a bad idea?
Thanks!
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Xe2d05bMM3ZOmklGE5JJ5A3pRIGMevbQUaIO4sjViCNv_lzGd_hlw70KzlOsqBEZ3TNcvRIFDDrzc0mz9ouzayyVki_zRRytwfFraIhphA8jw-T-oANXQmcnoSuRETY4Upk4mFb8bUEylWQQZ6Z9SYum_0rmvHBw9sQ-dwtEDW5r-ZkzQOxy__XxzmN-teqm5Sh6ek0fdpqcImX7scTovSeZBXXvxNsbqv86Vd8fOQ7lnXXvmOA3czJrJnXVw9ItACngecp_LcUwwrTelgpwUVvDBOTmTB2CHiHGARBSjZxBUVsJXlHvJ5oa-ekmHaRtNAAaYpFLlTccWUZsXcsEDvKkUO8WKnSslGEavBq9HrseJRXN7O9GRUMwU9tewkjinlzntgIPeKjWvgFTK4t5j73eHRxZxlnA4zG0eDUzvpBC142uVIHhs5Kg3RBwMoDHTK7P6OVidgwlxjbBoWzlmv_Hb1cjXmodQsBRx8JiiEExAFikdiD2R_be_cynU8XcAL6cTxEWL6ZJDLU5fO_d_876vB2Kk64CoCLSY6Ab0FQolWdZcNVYoMujUDiaf4n4w981SxgQfUFMZOzgWRyQvh85m2g0VSOngA5tR-TqdLElYep1AAn_Ff3qKofrSbZXRt2h7ayvJ5lCdGbX-X7TI-qcYq6tVAoB2h-ineLHTCKG12b1jgeeRv48=w2012-h878-no)
Without the ATF fluid to put pressure against the divider plate, at worst you might leak some oil through the seals. I can't see any damage occuring.
By the way, I have my engine almost assembled on the bench too. How did you measure crank shaft end play? The flex plate seems to wobbly to be a good base for the magnetic dial indicator.