today i drained the oil and filled the crank case with diesel and let it idle a few minutes then drained it and filled it with 10w30. this solved my pressure problem. i think there might have been something plugging the pressure release. i also noticed after doing this that some of the valves were opening more than before. i consulted a friend who said my problem might be that my hydraulic lifters had lost their prime and that could cause my pushrods to still move up and down but with less distance travelled and they would sit lower as well. so right now im thinking i need lifters and a cam.

bigjim, any thoughts on the lifters losing prime?