I am trying to fix on eproblem at a time and next up is my lubrication system.

After working on the bottom end of the engine i got everything back together and running, but it seems my oil pressure is a bit lower than in was before. I also have a pretty decent oil leak.

The oil pressure is about mid gauge during start up (normal because the oil is cool and viscous) but after it warm up it drops very low. At full operating temp is sits about a milimeter above the low line during idle, but will go up to the next line when driving. Maybe the oil pick up gasket is cracked?

It is also leaking oil at the rear of the engine. It is coming from the little hole at the bottom of the bell housing. I had the motor out of the truck so i know the rear seal is still good. I thought i had the oil pan sealed up pretty good but it could be coming from the very rear of it. Besides, would the oil pressure be quite low. This thing is leaking alot.

I did not put rtv on the valve cover gaskets. Maybe that?

 

I use 10w-40

 

You are supposed to put RTV on the four corners of each valve cover where they meet the cam covers. I do not think that is your leak though, since you would not expect it to come out of the weep hole in the bell housing. Stranger things have happened though.

I think if your oil pickup gasket is bad you would be sucking a lot of air into the pump, which would seem like a bad thing. More likely, your oil pump is just worn out. Alternatively, the stock oil pressure gauge is not known for accuracy, and it could be that yours just likes to hang low.