i just put a new amc 304 in my jeep cj. all new parts and just crancked it for the first time. adjusted the timing and seems to run great or so i thought. i heard the rockers making a little too much noise so i checked it out. there is no oil pressure. no oil getting to the filter. i filled it up half way then crancked it, it sucked it out but no return. no oil is being sent to the heads. the pump works or it wouldnt suck the oil from filter so why wont it return it and keep it circulating or send oil into the heads to the rockers? what can i do? to fix this before i damage my new motor.  

probably a oil passage plug got left out.

check behind the cam plate.

don't run it till ya find the prob.
pull the distributor and use a drill to drive the pump instead of cranking it over..  

There isn't really a return. Oil falls back down to the pan throught the heads, but not under pressure. The pump just picks it up out of the pan. The filter adapter has a bi-pass port on it in case the filter gets plugged. Then the filter won't explode. The filter won't affect oil getting moved around the engine.

You definitely don't want to run a new motor with out oil pressure, at all, none. The cam will be ruined instantly. If you're hearing rocker noise that may have already happend.

I'd take the valve covers off and remove the distributor. Use a primming rod on a heavy duty 1/2 inch drill to run the pump. You should see oil up in the heads. If you don't your probably going to have to pull the motor apart, or at least the pan and oil pump to figure out what's wrong.

Is it a new oil pump or did you just replace the gears?  

brand new oil pump, did pull the distributor and used the primming rod without the valve covers and still no oil...im running out of options.  

it must be an open passage that should be plugged, when engines are tanked they pull out every last soft plug in em...

my guess is right behind the cam plate/timing gears.. unless its runing down the back of the block

pull apart the water pump and cover off of it then spin the pump to see if ya have some oil spewing.  

Isn't there two plugs. One in the lifter galley and one in the block that diverts oil to the filter?  

I'm not exactly sure, I was just looking to see if I could find a diagram,
the filter shouldn't be getting sucked dry, I should have oil flowing into to till it's full, then exit....
I wonder if we're turning the drill the right direction?  

someone told me that the one to the lifter galley could have stayed plugged up during assembley but ripping appart the block will be my last option which seems to be approaching quickley. the only used parts in the whole motor are the guts of the oil filter pickup which are the actual bolt that you screw the filter to and a spring in the galley below that.  

i tried the drill in both directions and still no dice...  

I haven't rebult an AMC V8 since the '80s and I don't remember... I do have shop manuals if you want something looked up??  

should be clockwise..  

Pack oil pump with petroleum jelly or grease then use primer tool your pump isnt catching prime  

will the grease affect my motor in any way?  

How long did you run the drill?  

Not sure about type of grease Have used vasoline few differant engines,olds&amc without any problems at all