I'm about to install a new cam in my '69, 350, my question is regarding priming the oil system. I hear of people spinning the pump using an old disassembled dist. housing and shaft. I guess heres the question; can you just make a rod with an end that will fit into the pump shaft and use a drill?  Or do I need that dist. housing to seat into the block in order to get a prime throughout the valvetrain?

I just use a old distributer shaft,no housing in a 1/2 drill. CCW you'll be fine.

I just use a end of a regular large screw driver chucked into a cordless drill. Worked fine.