wow this site is awesome lots of replies
thanks all! it's not the coolant temp sensor that is new when the gaskets were done...and I will have to try the priming thing...I dont think it's a gm thing cuz I have a p.o.s. blazer that always cranks right up...and yes the reason for this thread is cuz this happened in front of three lovely ladies and I looked like a total scrub so I wanna get this taken care of!
again thanks everyone!