Don't want you fellow bolters losing any sleep over my demise (LOL) so I'll tell you I bit the bullet today- dropped the pan and pulled the pump. Holding the pump I submerged the the screen to about the same depth of oil as is in the pan, put my thumb over the discharge pipe that connects to the block, and spun the pump with a drill. To my suprise I was able to hold back any flow of oil out the pipe with my thumb. Thought there would be more pressure than that. More interesting though was as I lifted my thumb to bleed some oil during pumping, the oil was creamy white!!!!!! (and I"m guessing) indicating there is an air leak on the suction side somewhere, suction pipe, cracked casting, gear cover gasket, or something else? Next week I'll rig up a gauge to the discharge and progressively submerge the pump in oil to see where the leak is exactly. Ok, sleep well my friends!!
