took the old filter off and turned the engine over and oil does come spewing out. so the pump is moving oil around, it just isn't getting to the cams...
The old filter was an old puralator one that I have no doubt was on there for a few oil changes because the previous owner was a cheap ass redneck. So it might have been clogged up. Putting a new filter on just to be safe.
I'm thinking there is just some gunk in there that has clogged up the oil passageways. Gonna try to run some flush stuff through it and see what happens.
I poured a bunch of oil all over the cams when I had the valve cover off. Hopefully that will work long enough to let the flush do its thing.

oil pumps don't typically crap out on dohc engines... sohc, yeah it happens, there is usually another cause that kills the pump, but the pumps do die.
and yes, there is plenty of oil in there.