OK I got help this weekend finally and we gave it a go. The clutch is filled, carbs dampers filled but still haven't torqued the main. But anwyay we ran into some new problems.

We tried filling the oil and turned over the engine repeatedly with the starte (remote starter thingy). We were hoping to see the oil pressure build up enough to see oil come out of the rocker assembly at the top but couldn't get any oil to come up. We had about 3-1/2 quarts in the engine. So there are a few possiblities:

1. You won't see it come up turning it over with a starter - it has to warm up first.

2. Oil pick-up isn't installed or loose. I did install it and we drained the pan and felt in and could feel it just above the drain hole and it's not loose or anythign so I dont' think that's the problem. I do remember installing the gasket.

3. Oil Pump priming. We removed the oil pump and filled the filter and cycled the pump and filled until it woudln't take anymore. So this doesn't seem to be the problem.

4. Something blockign the passage to the rocker arm assembly? It is a complete rebuild, block and head were dipped, cleaned etc. I can't see how that could be it.

5. Headgasket is wrong and there's no opening for that oil path? Were there different heads with the oil passageway in different locations or is this common to all A series heads? I did get a set for my year model and it's the original head/block I think. I guess to check this we have to pull the head?? Or could I insert some sort of feeler down the hole to feel for blockage (suggestions for feelers?)

6. I'm not 100% sure that I installed the baffle in the oil pan. I have one sitting around but it could be from my spare pan (which doesn't have one installed) but who knows I could have lost one and not installed that one. Could that be the problem?

So any ideas or suggestions for troubleshooting? Shoudl we ignore this and just try to fire it up? I'm worried about all of the new bearings etc not getting oil and I don't want to trash the engine on the first try. Almost everything in the engine is brand new (oil pump, water pump, fuel pump, pistons, rings, bearings, etc..)

Thanks again for the help
Michael