Priming
Don't prime it with vaseline! Use an engine assembly lube
like Torco. If you intend starting the engine within a day or two, it shouldn't
run off and getting the oil pressure up shouldn't be a problem.
If you leave it for longer, it can run off and getting oil pressure up may be
difficult.
If you are having difficulty in getting the oil pressure;
Remove the banjo bolt from the feed pipe at the top of the block
Squirt oil into the oilway in the block
Put the car in a FORWARD gear and push the car BACKWARDS or jack up one side and turn the raised wheel
Keep filling oilway with oil
Repeat a couple of times
Refit banjo bolt and crank. Oil pressure should rise fairly instantly.
This effectively is feeding the oil back into the sump, forcing the air out.
Oil pump types
1. If you're building a 998, you need an A+ 998 oil pump, ( Rover Part No. GLP139*)
2. If its 1275 then a 1275 A+ oil pump. (Rover Part No. GLP138*)
* Both Part No for ref only, may have been superseded
recently.
If you're ordering from a non-mini factor, to save confusion, it's easier to ask
for a Metro 998 or 1300!