It might help if you could run a section of line above the pump then connect it to the inlet on the pump. What
little bit of oil in the line would rest against the pump keeping it "primed". Kinda like whats pictured below. I noticed with the MM pump cover that I'll loose prime after 2 weeks of setting. My Milodon never did that. Could set all winter and still have oil pressure at startup. Thank goodness for an oil accumalator!