oil pressure !!plz help

[180sx]

89 ka24e 207kok so my car stalled few weeks ago and won't start, figured mechanical timing was out of wack, took it apart reset mech timing, tensioner and chain guides are fine. now when car starts its so damn loud and oil lamp is on. seems that noise is coming from valves and chain, also won't rev past 3.000 rpm so i figured no oil pressure. took my oil pump out and its empty no oil in it at all(ussualy there is oil in the pump all the time right ??) So far my theory goes my pump died, no pressue ,tensioner works on oil pressure so that made my chain skip few teeth. now how can i test if my pump is gone???is there a way ??? and if its gone what needs to be replaced in it or is it better just to buy a used one rather than rebuilding.if anyone else thinks of something plz reply:help :help :help

[NISTECH]

is your pickup tube restricted in the pan. or is the pick up not connected/sealed properly to the oil pick up galley? i would think the oils not getting to it. the pumps dont go out on nissans usually.

[180sx]

is there a way to check if oil pickup is disconected or clocked without removing oil pan cuz on 240 you have to drop . crossmember or jack up the engine in order to remove oilpan sux.and yah as far as i know what tha hell can block oil pickup its like almost an inch in diameter. also how do i check if pump is working or not??it gets spun by the crank so its sure is spinning but no oil inside of it.

[180sx]

ok so this is what i did i took a hose and stuck it into a bigger hole blew into it and i can hear oil buble in the pan, than i sucked and i can see some oil coming into the hose, so everything looks fine there, also blew into the smaller hole air doesn't go anywhere but i think only oil under pressure supose to flow throw that hole i don't think i can blow hard enough to create that pressure.damn what else can it be besides oil not being sucked by the pump.????

[NISTECH]

i cant get these 2 engines straight i dont see them enough. but is the gear for the oil pump connected to the shaft for the pump or is it at the end of the distrib housing? if its on the dist. housing check to see if the end of the oil pump shaft that goes into the dist is broke off do the same at the other end of the shaft that goes into the oil pump. if the gear is actually on the oil pump shaft you will only need to check it at the pump side since it is turning the distributor because the car runs.

[drjohn]

Did you get new seals for the timing cover where the oil ports in the block seal to the cover?? If not or they have fallen out then the pump will suck air past the cover and you will get no oil pressure.