Just something to look at, but the only way the engine will stay running is if the drive tang from the distributor hits the bronze gear. I really think your issue is in the valve train/cam/ lifter area.

Will do Al,

I replaced the o ring for S&Gs that goes into the block since i took the pump back out. I will prime motor while spinning it here shortly, then ill pull valve covers and intake next

Thank you for your help

It was running, i just didnt keep it running for long at all with the low oil pressure

I will problby pull everything off and see here soon.

Thank you

So just for the hell of it ...

The heading is "dual oiling question". The "pump" is a stock style pump. Therefore to be a dual system it has to have the plate between block and pump for the second line.. That plate requires the longest intermediate shaft. Since priming with a drill provides pressure but the running engine doesn't, the shaft could "possibly" be the issue. Worth measuring !!

If you get oil pressure with the tool and low with the intermediate shaft running the pump - wild a$$ guess - make sure the shaft is not broken loose in the gear and spinning within the gear.

I’d have someone turning the crank slowly while you use the drill, with intake off. After checking the drive gear. If engine is running at 800 rpm the oil pump is turning 400, same as most heavy duty reversible drills. Losing pressure while running means something is opening up a huge leak (lifters going up to high will do that) the reason for turning while drilling. All else is static (with clearances)

Had a race engine with roller lifters uncovering the lifter bores. Had decent pressure when 1500 or higher, at idle would drop to 10-20 lbs.

Unless he's using both ports on the pump cover for pickups. Then he wouldn't need the plate b/t the pump and the block.

I do have the plate.

I had it all back together yesterday primed and had it running with 50 lbs of pressure, then lost it.

So is the best move next, is to pull valley inspection cover off and look in there?

When did this issue start?

Assuming the engine ran fine at one point now it is acting up ?

Do you have the correct length (longer than stock) oil pump driveshaft? It has to be longer due to the extra thickness of the plate b/t the pump and the block.

Since it was working at one point and not is not makes me wonder if it is just aerating the oil.

Chip the intermediate shaft is almost flush with the block

I meant to take a picture of that and didn't. 

?? At the bottom ??

So its running and has 50 psi and the nothing ?!?!

Would seem to be:

a) pump has stopped turning or
b) has run out of oil

One point I want to make - don't know how important it will be but I'll mention it anyway 'cause nobody else has ...

My experience with the aluminum plate and cover is that the pump is very sensitive to being bolted on. I have never been able to bolt that assembly to the block with any more than about 10 ft.lbs of torque on the bolts. Any more and the pump binds drastically. I put the pump together on the bench and torque the two short cover bolts and check that the pump spins freely. When I install the pump I use red loctite on all the bolts. Try them at factory torque and check for binding - which it always does. Back them all off then retighten with 5 pounds less and check again. But 10 ft.lbs always seemed to be the magic number.

I’ll ask again. When did this all start. Out of the clear blue sky of did you repair or replace something.

Sounds like it's running out of oil. Either it's sucking air and loosing the suction. Or the pan is sucking up to the pickup.

Did you use the floor jack on the oil pan to jack it up??? 😂

Trade you a Camaro lol

I haven't read through the replies but I'd bet your problem is the lifters are bleeding oil pressure at max cam lift. What is the cams lobe lift and what lifters are you using?

FWIW a .600 lift cam will expose the oil passage unless you use a shrouded lifter. Although no longer available Crane 66550 are a shrouded roller lifter with roller oiling.

Wouldn't that depend on the base circle diameter?

Well like fast says concerned about the oil pan, I think maybe i should start there, pull it off see if i see anything evident? Make sure that's good. Then go to the lifter gallery.

I'm not sure what lifters are in it, I didn't put this together I bought it with low runs on it.

Thanks everyone