The tool is the preferred method. The FSM will have something like "disable the ignition and crank for 15-20 second bursts with several minutes between bursts for the starter to cool down."Nicely. I remember getting a long hexagonal tool back when I built my 440, pulling the dist and drive gear and winding the hell out of the oil pump for a good 3 minutes before firing off... I'll do that again. I mean, still jot sure if the idiot light works ... it should as it's on and it wasn't before but I'll get that tool and wind it up till the light goes out. Shoulda thought of that!
You really don't want to run W/O oil pressure... hard on bearings and the cam isn't getting washed.