You don't have to but I put it on the tube before I press it in. It makes it easier to go in plus it seals. Where did you hammer...did you use a wrench or installation tool or did you hammer on pipe.
Before you go to far replace the oil filter first.

 

Before you do anything else, remove the oil filter. Pour the oil through a coffee filter and look for metal particles. You can also cut the filter open. The bigger stuff will be caught in there.

If you see even glitter-sized metal, either silver or copper-colored, the engine is likely done. Trying to avoid a $50 tow might have cost you an engine.

The severity of the damage can only be determined by a tear-down.

 

4 months later and. I finally got the jeep in the garage. Didn't notice any shiny silver in the oil when draining it or the filter when removed and poured through a filter. I'm going to remove pan and check for play on the under side of the engine, does anyone have any other advice on what to check for to determine the damage of the engine?

 

Pull some rod caps and look at the bearings and crank.

 

Before you go to all that trouble remove the CPS/distributor and spin the pump with a drill and see if it builds pressure (you will feel the drill bog down if it does). Inspect the drive tang on the pump and cam gear.
Just to put your mind at ease (and I will probably get arguments on this) driving easy for 2-3 miles without oil pressure will not toast an engine. The lifters will collapse causing the engine to run rough but there is enough residual oil in the crank to protect the bearings for quite awhile.

 

Here's to hoping so should I take my head off and take it to a shop to get checked out?

 

No Why would you take the head off?

 

Since there wasn't any pressure pushing oil up might there be damage there?

 

I doubt it. The lifters will pump up again when pressure returns. There was plenty of residual oil splashing/slinging around to lube the camshaft. That protective oil film on moving parts does not instantly go away when you lose oil pressure.

 

Thanks man I appreciate the optimism

 

The camshaft relies on oil pressure (flow) to lube its bearings, not splash. The main bearings also require oil flow to lube them. The only bearings using splash are the connecting rod bearings.

 

I did not say it relies on splash for NORMAL protection. There should be enough oil splashing /slinging around to get on the cam lobes. Cam bearings do not have the same psi load that rod bearings have so any residual oil left on them should be adequate for a short time.

 

What ever is best.

 

I think he's talking about a lawn mower.

 

This is not a peeing contest boys. I am simply giving honest hope to the PO. Helping others is the intent of this forum.