"One for the books" SB oil pump fit

I understand you perfectly Del.
I'm guessing the pump drive was not yet in?, so it wasn't hanging up on the hex-drive.

Right. This is the bare pump. The new pump fit fine, and the problem pump just came out of the 318 that had been running in the car

I have some other pumps lying around if I get time I'll have a look at them. By the way the pan and timing cover is finally on the new mill. Hope to have the heads on this week, they are EQ. I'll have to deal with custom pushrods next

I'm gonna chop up a couple of old magnum PR and stick threaded rod inside so I can jack them around LOL