bad DET? oiling problems

[Dustin Buell]

doing an "E" model swap, and i got everything right.
anyways, as i am cranking the engine with the coil
wire pulled, it is clanking hardcore...figured it was
a lifter not pumped up cause the motor was dry of any
oil when i got it.  so, all fluids are fine, and after
about 2 minutes of turning the motor over i figure oil
is getting around.  i install the coil wire.  start
it.  clank clank clank.  everytime the #1 cylinder
intake and exhaust lobe go down, clank clank clank.
godawful noise the whole time, like i could swear
valves were bend. it ran fine to the 30 seconds it was
running, but the idle shot up a little bit.  i just
figured it was the TPS that i hadn't adjusted yet.  i
stopped the motor and primed the oil pump, stuffing
tons of oil down the oil filter passages...like 1
quart worth.  re-install the filter and start it. same
thing..goddamnit this is gettin to be a real pain in
the ass.  i prime the thing again.  take the oil tube
feeder bolts off the top end and crank the
engine....nothing.  so i figure bad oil pump right?  i
take the whole damned front cover off, and check out
the pump.  feeler guage, FSM and caliper says it's
within spec, and i mean no wear.  so now i am
stuck...i was thinking lifter but obviously it can't
pump up with out oil.  blocked oil passage?  i don't
have an oil pressure guage so i guess i will go invest
in one, but has anyone had any experience with this
problem? the motor otherwise strong, passing a wet
compression test with 170 all the way across.  any
other suggestions?  take air to the passages?  since
it was dry, i figured maybe that dryed oil was stuck
in there...i don't know what to do next.  the engine
has a warranty on it, but i really, really don't want
to pull it out, i don't have the time.