While I am doing this for piece of mind... I still am wondering what exactly that little piece of electrical tape could hurt, that's one thing nobody has mentioned.

So the tape idea wasn't the best. 10-4
... can't change that... however if I can run the engine (1984 Chevrolet 350) then pull the pan and check the pump screen... that'd be saweet. It takes like 15 mins to lower the pan to the point I can reach in it and even drop the pump