2003 4.6l engine with 80k on it. Had a leaky head gasket (oil, not coolant) in rear of engine. Decided to tear everything down and rebuild the top end.

While I was there, decided to pull the sump and front cover off to check the pump and timing gears.

Both the oil pump and timing gears were cracked. I followed this by replacing everything.

So here I am, finished, car turns over, and bam. Low oil pressure light. Seems sluggish at idle but runs smooth at 2k rpm.

I KNOW, Need to do a pressure test, don't have the equipment yet, so planning on doing it.

Also, when assembling the oil pump, I did something stupid. I put "all purpose grease" on the gears with some oil hoping to prime it. I'm guessing that the grease is to thick and clogged the Relief Valve.

Spent a ton of hours on this project and it sucks I can't run it. But I would rather do it right then ruin everything

Thoughts and opinions are welcome. thinking of taking it to a shop just so I don't have to pull that damn oil sump again

 

Grease will melt out.
Put in synthetic oil and run it.
As long as your pressure light is out - you have enough pressure.
Did you put the top valve solid bars on the head studs ok?
Those could be leaning excessively if you shimmed them with washers.

 

1. the oil light came on and stayed on
2. petroleum base or synthetic base grease ?

 

It's possible to remove both oil pressure relief/bypass valves with the cover on the truck. It's not easy, but I've done it. However, If they were stuck, most likely your pressure would be too high, not too low. BTDT.

 

1. Came on and stayed on (I didn't let it run for longer than 60 seconds)

2. It was synthetic based

 

Do you mean the rocker shaft?

 

if the grease were petroleum based i would say no problem, as oil is also petroleum based; which is way they say to use petroleum jelly.
you might try removing the oil pressure switch, pull the coil or fuel pump fuse, your choice , crank it and see if you are getting oil as far as the switch.

 

What do you mean by pull the coil? And what will pulling the fuel pump fuse allow?

 

You need to back feed oil pressure through the oil pressure switch hole. You can pressurize oil in a cheap Harbor freight spray paint can

 

pull the fuse to the coil or fuel pump will keep the engine from starting, allowing you to crank it.