Packing the pump didn't work. I may have left the gasket off the pickup tube. I will be checking that out today.

I don't recall if the timing cover waz grooved.

here's a question (and I may dedicate a thread to this): How many oil journal plugs are there on a 22re block? Where are they? I am thinking that if any are left out it would have to be behind the timing chain cove or else I would have oil leaking since I do have pressure just very low.

Tonight I will be pulling the pan and checking the pickup and removing the timing chain cover to check the journals that may exist there. If that doesn't work what could be my next step?