For the love of all that is sacred and holy!
An effing O ring??
Re-install #4 - removed the apparently properly fitting (new) O ring. Upon inspection, it had a diagonal cut nearly clean through. It must have been a couple of millimeters too big and got pinched and cut during the first installation.
The old O ring is back in and there are no leaks with the 2 1/2 quarts of oil (all I had left).
I'll top it off tomorrow and hopefull have an end to this sordid chapter.
Thanks for all of the help!
Steve