Bad Hadraulic Lifters, Maybe?

Did you diss-mantle the pump,, and if you did, did you try to turn it by hand, before installing it? If you inverted the idler gear,, it can lock up the pump...

Is it a used pan, and pick-up? Is it possible a piece of debris in the pickup tube, from a previous engine, jammed the pump?

No did not take the pump apart. It is a new Milodon pan and pick up.