DJR, This afternoon I did what you had suggested. And I found that there is no plug blocking the oil flow through that crossover passage. I used a 1/16" rod and a 1/4" rod to probe the oil bore from the oil pressure sender port. The 1/4" rod would go down to a max depth of 10 1/2" and the 1/16" rod would go down to 12 3/4" max depth.
Terry, are you suggesting that when you probed the hole, you could push a small rod into this hole and go further than 8-3/8"?
As far as I could tell using the 1/16" rod with a hook on the end of it the top of the port from the oil filter is at 8" and the bottom of the port from the oil pump is at 9 3/4".
I'm not following you on that one.
The measurement would be taken from the upper area where the oil pressure sender would be installed.
This measurement would be taken vertically, starting at the top and probing downwards until the rod was stopped by the plug.
For some reason the plug in that passage has come up missing and is allowing the oil to bypass the filter.
Yes, if that plug is not there, the oil will do as you say.