Bad Hadraulic Lifters, Maybe?

goldmember said

The trouble isn't a locked up pump or any other crapola. This is user error. The pump was damaged on on installation. Should have made sure the drive shaft was in the hex BEFORE tightening the oil pump mounting bolts. Another and better option is to remove the drive shaft before installing the oil pump.

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Sounds like you nailed it. Kinda weird though cause the pump should have turned when installing it you would think to accept the hex on the oil pump drive shaft. Must have been just right to not engage the drive. I also don't see how the pump could have got close enough to mate on the cap. Seems the OP when installing it used brute force when tightening those bolts down. But then again wouldn't the bolts be too far away to even start the threads?? We're longer bolts used to bring the pump close enough and then the stock bolts used to draw the pump to the cap?.... I'm lost on that one:banghead:

I think I just reasoned myself out of your theory.....