Tony, I do have an Auto Meter mechanical gauge hooked to it. I unhooked the fitting at the block after I got no oil pressure, and still nothing. I was hoping for a bad gauge or restricted oil line, but looks like its not getting the oil that far.
Scamp, I was turning the pump with a big electric drill, not a cordless. that baby is screaming while it is turning, and you can feel the pump bog the drill just a bit, when it picked up oil. like I had said, it is pumping oil, because the filter is getting pumped full. leaving the filter, is where something is amiss. I want to lean towards a plug being out, but I double checked behind the engine builder as it was coming together. thats how I caught the plug in front of the distributor being out, before it was too late. is it possible that I missed one? sure looks that way, but I wanna think not.
I forgot to mention that I had installed a cross over tube in the lifter valley to feed the rockers, so should'nt they be getting oil now without the engine being turned over while priming? If I'm thinking right, as long as the main oil galley is full of oil and pressurized, it should take the rerouted path of the cross over tube, to the rockers.
thanks again for any suggestions, guys. this is a real pain.