The intermediate shaft and gear are press-fit and pinned together making it impossible for the shaft to slide down and out the oil pump hole. If you want to prime the oil pump without having to disturb the distributor and intermediate shaft, pack the oil pump rotor and scroll with vasoline. The vasoline should create enough of a seal to create the vacuum to get the oil up the pick-up to the pump and then will just melt and dissolve once the engine starts.