cold low oil pressure help!!

[CSXTacy]

i am working on another kids car and it has given me nothing but problems to the point im about to burn this mother down! lol anyways i have been cleaning up a redtop sr swap in a 91 coupe someone else did. and i wired in the gauges last night when i started it i seen the oil pressure was reading 19 lbs cold, and a slight tick was comming from the bottom end of the engine. but we had it started earlier in the week when it was on the ground and it ran great perfect idle no ticking (not sure what the pressure was didn't have a oil pressure gauge at the time) but i jacked it up put it on 4 jack stands to installed the aftermarket oil pressure gauge and now its reading 19lbs cold and a slight bottom end tick! Note: i checked pressure with both the electric pressure gauge and mechanical gauge same reading with both. i know pressure should be close to 100 psi cold....... also the oil filter has a tiny ding in it could that be it? please brainstorm some ideas!

[Supermini99]

Have you checked the oil level? If the oil filter has some dings i would change that its a easy fix..Hmm as for the little ticking on the bottom end is it loud when you rev the motor a little does it get louder or go away?

[CSXTacy]

yes the oil level is right on the full mark, i will replace the filter to eliminate that as a problem, it has a slight tick at idle but gets louder when reving the motor....... any ideas or suggestions?

[camaro379ss]

Piston slap? Does the oil pickup tube have any damage?

Are you positive it is lower end? Just double checking.

[Supermini99]

Maybe what your hearing is timing chain rattle have u checked the timing chain tensioner?As for the oil pressure it might be a old tired motor (needs rebuild or slap a new oil pump) chances are if the swap was haggered before you got it then more then likely the motor wasnt even running right/properly and probably got damaged internaly detonation,low compression,etc..