Filled with oil and checked compression while priming the oil pump.

Cylinder #1 225 psi
cylinder #2 225 psi
cylinder #3 220 psi
cylinder #4 235 psi

I think the head surface skimmed by machine shop to clean oxidation raised the compression. Compression when I bought the car at 130k miles was 220 psi across all four. Well we'll see how it runs.

After the compression test, still no oil pooling on top of the head. I may have to open the oil filter and fill it with oil to prime the oil pump.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1251041963.jpg

Still can't get oil pressure after filling up the oil filter housing 6 times. I am getting frustrated. Battery is getting weak.
I'll walk away for the meantime and wait for the battery to get recharged, then try filling the oil filter housing again.

I got oil pressure!!!!

After 10 x removing and reinstalling oil filter, filling up the center tube and manually spinning the crank CCW, I got oil pressure.

Still have to install power steering, radiator, fans and belts, should be ready to run.

It's running!!!!!!

It took about 10 minutes of blipping the throttle before the hydraulic lifters stopped clacking. Coolant bleeding went smoothly as well.
Time to clean up and get it ready for test drive.

You say you were spinning the crank CCW, is that as viewed from the from of the car? If you are looking at the front of the car, the crank turns clockwise when running.

I was standing in front of the car.

Remove DME relay
I took the oil filter out.
Put a long slender funnel on the center tube of the filter housing
Pour oil into the funnel
Manually turn the crank pulley CCW, until oil is sucked in. keep pouring until it stops going in.
Pull the funnel out.
Put the oil filter back in.
Start the car. Try cranking 2 or 3x max so as not to drain the battery
If oil pressure does not build up, stop and repeat the above until you see movement in the oil pressure gauge.
When it builds up oil pressure, it will go up to 5 bars on the gauge.
I thought it will never build up pressure, but when it did on the 10th time, the gauge needle moved a little then started rising quickly.

Got the car tested for the last 2 days. Runs really stronger than before the headgasket replacement

The oil pan, RMS and rear balance shaft seals are all dry, however, the front lower balance shaft developed a nasty oil leak. The oil is contaminating the balansce shaft belt. I replaced all the seals in this housing. Is it possible the big o-ring behind the housing got damaged during the install?
This car is starting to tick me off. LOL. The car is back on the lift while waiting for new seals. I hope it is nothing major.

What else can cause an oil leak in front of the lower balance shaft?

Lower balance shaft oil leak
 

The car is back on the lift.:mad:

The rear cover is just wet with motor oil, drips to the bottom cover and drips on the driveway. I am just pissed after all the work that has been completed.

The oil is seeping between the lower balance shaft and the sleeve and getting slung inside the cover contaminating the balance shaft belt, not good.

Rear belt cover

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1252094636.jpg

Lower balance shaft leaking

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1252094672.jpg

Looks like I will need a new mylar seal, sleeve and oil seal.
I will post my findings and results this weekend.

Well, the oil seal and sleeve are now off the shaft.
Look what I found!
Mylar seal was split open. No wonder it was leaking like h$ll.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1252101764.jpg