oil pressure startup..

long story short.. 65 273 2bbl auto cuda.... been piecing this project back together the PO started. he took it ALL apart. story I got from my buddy is that I traded for ...that when he got from the PO was......it had been running car when he started " the take apart episode"....

the short block was still together. I just replaced freeze plugs and gaskets. put the rest of it back together and dropped it back in the cuda and hooked everything up. my plan is IF the engine is no good, just look for another used one. I don't have a clean place the disassemble the short block. rebuilds are not on my plate...

late this afternoon, I got it started for the first time. the oil gauge ( cheap oreilly crap) immediately jumped right up and just as quick fell to 0. the sorry line jumped out of the gauge. I find another better ferrel for the line and start it back up. pressure jumps up to 65- maybe 70 # by that gauge. I let it run maybe 15 seconds. too dark to check for leaks at the carb or other important spots., and I shut it down...

my question is: isn't that a lot of pressure??? seems like all my other cars have about 50 # cold at idle. I assume the (original) oil pump that was in the engine was a standard pump. I didn't replace the pump either.

wondering about that high a pressure???? thanks