i made sure to use assembly lube when putting every thing back together.
i only ran it for a few mins.

You can try turning the oil pump drive shaft & see if it will prime, once you get oil through all the push rods you are golden. Heck might as well give it a shot anyways no guarantees. If it eventually tosses a rod you already have another short block (your old one) right?

If it only ran for a couple of minutes as stated and never got oil pressure,and it knocking .You already got your answer .If ya think it just needs priming jus disconnect coil wire and turn motor over it should pump up.

no i had to use it as a core at the JY

i cant get the pump to prime.
do i have to drop the pan and fill it with vas.

got it and ill do a small write up on how.

ok got it running and there isnt anymore noise.
thinking about it now i think it was the lifters not getting oil.
i had it running for a few and was watching the gauges when i noticed the oil was LOW and then the check gauges light came on.
the temp was also up to 204 when i have a 180 thermostat in it.

i have the elm scanner for the laptop so that is how i now the temp is 204 and the gauge was up there to.

any ideas as to why this is happening?