I've got a new oil pump (from AB) in the front cover of my 2002. I've packed'er with assembly lube and vaseline (up, down, top, inside, outside, bottom, sideways), as per suggestion. She spins nice an easy at this point and feels flush with the front engine cover.

However, when I tighten down the oil pump cover onto the front engine cover, she's locked up tighter than a deer tick on a hounddog. I can't spin it in either direction.

I must be a moron. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

I ripped everything apart, brake cleaned it, repacked with all the lube, and the second time it worked. Weird.