need to try that...any other tips?  

do not use bearing grease...  lithium or vasoline is fine.

that is unlikely to help an oil pump though...  

amc&olds oil pumps are not submerged in oil they need to be primed on initial start up  

someone had told me to put about a quart of oil in the pump then try to prime it. is that basicly the same thing?  

Best thing ive ever done is to pull bolts on pump cover,pack cavity around pump gears,prime with primer tool.Its never failed me  

was the same thing happening to you...and that fixed it?  

Yes my 304 did the same thing  

wow, ok thanks i apppreciate all the help from everyone and if anyone can think of any other options please let me know...  

the pick up tube is on it right?  

c.law:
amc&olds oil pumps are not submerged in oil they need to be primed on initial start up

The pick-up is submerged... all oil pumps need primed for initial start-up.

If the pump is clearanced correctly, it will prime if you run the drill long enough. It may take several minutes.

You can also pull the oil pressure sending unit and plumb in a cheapo drill pump and prime the whole motor. The cheapo drill pump won't build pressure, so if you could put several quarts of oil in the motor with the drill pump, that might show that a plug is missing.  

how long do i need to run the drill, i only ran it for a few short minutes...?  

The person who builds the short block is responsible for the galley plugs.

In order to tank the block, the plugs are removed. Cleaners are run through the galleys. If the machine shop that tanked the block and heads and checked them for cracks didn't remove the plugs, they didn't do a good job.

If you built the short block, then you would know if the plugs were installed or not. If someone else did, it's their baby, have them look into it.

I think your oil pump is most likely working, as long as the pick up is installed correctly.

It takes pressure to drive the oil up into the lifters and the heads. If the galley plug is missing, it will not build enough pressure.

AMC V8 lifter bores often need attention. Often they need sleeved because of excessive wear. These can lead to low oil pressure but probably not no oil pressure. The cam bearings are also a tricky area in an AMC V8 rebuild. They are accused of over oiling, causing low oil pressure. People use different cam bearings with different oiling passages to address the over oiling.  

attached to the oil pump is an elbow that you screw the oil filter to which is hollow to run the oil out of. under that screw there is another oppening which also leads to the oil pump. it has a spring in it with a very small cover which seems to be made of what seems to be compressed cardboard. would that cause the loss of pressure?  

that is the presure valve