Hey Doug!
Thank you for the advice. I was thinking the exact same thing. The pick up is in the front of the driver side valve cover. It is the fitting that star provides with the kit. The opening is currently facing down. I was thinking about facing it up and then retrying it.
With regards to pressuring up the motor. I actually put a valve stem in my valve cover for that exact purpose. However, when I checked it last I pulled the motor out of the car and I borrowed my buddies smoker. When we smoked it the smoke was coming out of the rear main seal area. I pulled the pan and redid the side seals and coated it with silicone. It still leaked a little around the seal but it was better. I was hoping when it was running it would seal a little better. But now that you mention it it took a while after doing that to fill the puke tank the first time. I bet a new leak has sprung up. I guess I have a little work to do.
another area to leak on a big block is the stock timing cover crank seal. IF you notice all the big blocks in this thread that pull over 10" have a jesel belt drive. That has a way better crank seal than the stock type. There are better crank seals to buy though.
Also with the Star pump, they don't like ANY oil in them. Try brake cleaning your pump by spraying brake clean into it while the engine is idling.
Call Star, they are helpful too and will walk you through what your doing wrong. They are some of the best vac pumps out there
