IF you still have 25 lbs of pressure by the time you poke your head in the car I'd say you have pressure !! The issue seems to be that you can't "see" it at the rockers so that would indicate a simple cam oil hole alignment problem.

If you're trying to prime it by hand I'd take a few minutes and set that gauge in the engine compartment where you can see it.

I had a hell of a time getting my motor to prime. It just wouldn't suck oil up. I had the pump on and off at least 3 times because it couldn't possibly be anything else. It finally primed and I can only figure that the pump was too dry.