Oil Pressure Woes

Ok, i'm a computer geek with a good mechanical knowledge. Military 10 years, I know how to fix all kinds of stuff.
I had low oil pressure issues on my 318, got opinions, and decided it was the oil pump pickup clogged, true fact, it was.
After 10 hours of removing, cleaning out melling HV oil pump, testing pump, I did not "prime" the oil pump.

Am I screwed? Do I really have to do that again?

This was a very good running engine, just got low / no oil pressure at idle after doing intake 5 times (360 heads / milled bad angle / fixed that)

Now, i'm scared of no oil pressure tearing up a very good engine, I tried to remove the distro gear but it seems to be really tight against the cam gears (NO PLAY WHATSOEVER).

Can't remove gear to prime oil pump,

Any Ideas? Bad timing chain holding cam gear tight?, anyone? IDK why I can't get the gear out of the distro?