So I've read through all the forums and I'm still stuck. I need some advice on what to do next.

So the skinny of it is that I bought a 1997 discovery v8i with the engine half taken apart. The body and electrical are in good working order (for a LR ). The engine was seriously gunked up. I took everything apart, cleaned it, had the heads shaved and cleaned, new bearings, new timing chain, new radiator, new oil pump, new starter motor, new rings, new battery, new push rods, new rocker arms, new rockers, new springs, new tappets, and even new freeze plugs. You know, the whole 9.

Well, I lube up everything, add the petrolium jelly to the oil pump, torque some bolts, put the engine back together, rewire the electric, and add new fluids. The engine fires up and it can run at idle (not bad for my first mechanical experience).

Now the squeeze. Oil pressure light is on. I build a contraption w/2 oil pressure gauges (you know, in case one is rubbish). Connect it, fire the baby up, and still zero oil pressure. I read through the forums and scour thru youtube for answers. I physically pump oil into the pump from the upper oil cooler line to make sure its primed. I changed oil to the highly regarded Rotella 15w40. I check the passages to the lines. And here I am posting to the forum because there's no pressure.

What should I do in this situation. I don't want to pop off the front cover unless I really have to. I already know that I forgot the gasket from sump pick up line to block (w/e) i don't think that would be significant enough to cause no pressure. I don't want to run it any more until I have a fix for this problem. Any thoughts???

 

There is a "front" and "back" to the large oil pump gear. Look at the outside edges of your old one and you will see 1 edge has a bevel to it. Unfortunately I cannot 100% recall the direction it is supposed to face but that could be your problem, it is easy to overlook.