LT1 gurus - Oil pump drive installation woes

96 RMW LT1

So I am doing a major overhaul on my 96 wagon, and on that note, the intake manifold gaskets are being replaced.  While I had the manifold off, I figured I would replace the stock plastic oil pump drive housing with an aluminum unit from Tick Performance.  I swapped over the drive gear since I am still on stock cam, and the gear wasn't worn at all.

Getting it back in so I can reinstall the intake manifold is proving to be a giant pain in the rear!  I've spent all day today trying to get the dang thing to go back in.
This is what I've done to try and get it installed so far:

• Turned the pump shaft to align the slot at both 12-6 and 3-9
  
• Drew a Sharpie line on top of the shaft to correlate with the slot below so I could see the alignment
  
• Used 1500 grit sandpaper to make sure the inside of the drive gear and the slot that goes into the pump shaft were clean
  
• Put the assembly in and rotated the crank to try to get the slots to align
  
• Lubricated the drive gear, the housing, and the slot/hole in the drive gear with fresh oil
  
• Put a dial indicator down inside the assembly on top of the shaft to monitor if the shaft started to drop down into place
  

What am I missing??? Do I need to have someone "wiggle" the assembly up and down while I turn the crank?

Try installing it without the gear to see if it's the gear/drive or the housing that's hanging up.

Personally, I'd just put a washer under the existing bolt to spread the clamping load, and put the stock bracket back in.

Have you tried reinstalling the original drive gear to see if the problem is with the new gear, or something else?

I got it on... note to self - take pictures of how parts are assembled for future reference. My memory is getting worse with age.

What was the issue?

Don't laugh - I put the drive gear on backwards.

It happens. I recently [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], forgot to hook up the alternator control wire, drove the car around all day on battery and wondered why I lost transmission and ABS electronics, and then came out of work to a dead battery.   Duh...