Had an oil pump gasket leaking on the 440 in my pickup. Went thru an act of Congress to get the pump out. Someone used 4x4 motor mount brackets that capture the pressure spring cap, so you can't just drop the oil pump. Anyway, I went with a brand new pump and like a dummy didn't pack the new pump with Vaseline like I usually do. This is my daily driver, so I was in a hurry to get it up and running. Never even put oil in the pump so it would prime. Therein lies my problem, can't get the pump to prime. I have a priming tool but , can't get it to suck up oil. Any suggestions,(other than get a clue) would be appreciated.

your turning it counter clockwise right?
Filled the filter ?

Yes on both.

Pull the filter and use a vacuum pump and try to draw oil into the pump. If not just pull it and prime it. Somebody slowly turning the pump may help when you apply the vacuum.

hi
why did you change th pump?

is your pick up cloged ?
'

Make sure the "O" ring is on the neck part of the pump that slides into the block.
That "O" ring is on the suction side, so if it does not seal, the pump will be sucking air.

Spin it faster (get a faster drill, or set it on high speed)

The pickup isn't clogged. I had to remove the pump to replace a leaking gasket so I figured why not replace the pump with a new one since I had it apart. Typically I'm very meticulous when working on my vehicles but,I was in a hurry trying to get it up and running and back on the road as soon as possible and it came around and bit me in the a$$.

I have never packed a pump with anything. "Prime" ??? Never had to do that.
This is a problem for some people?

This happened to me on a 400 I rebuilt. What worked for me was removing the oil filter and priming it again. Eventually the oil gushed out the filter hole.

Elmor, try loosening the oil filter enough to allow the air in the filter to be pushed out until it starts pumping oil in the pump, you will hear the drill motors start to slow down when it starts sucking the oil up into the pump

I've done dozens of big blocks and never had this issue before. Most of them never even had oil put in the pump. I know that the pickup tube isn't plugged, because I had 70lbs of pressure on the other pump.

Same here, only person I ever saw pack the pump with Vaseline was working on a buick.

I'd suspect the pressure relief piston is stuck, either take it out and polish it, or take the pump back for a refund.