You guys have beeen a great help so far. Pulling the pan seems inevitable, but I think maybe I should try to get a REAL oil pressure reading with a REAL gauge first. This way I'll have some sort of base to work from. Do you think all the idleing caused this problem? I know 100,000 seems like a lot of miles but another friend had 250000 on his fe 390 and it was still running strong. Like I said before the oil was changed religiously and inside the valve covers is spic and span.
The drawing is exactly what I was looking for. I now can see where the oil comes from. I could pull the one bolt on each rocker shaft and blow compressed air down through. I know I still need to pull the pan no matter what. When I pull the pan and say the screen is clean, then what should I check next? Check pump clearances? Use Plasticgauge on the bearings? Just my luck, it hasn't rained in 6 months here in California, today it has to rain.
I really appreciate all the input, as I was stalled out on this problem, being a chevy guy all my life not familiar with this engine. This forum rocks.