i'm basing the reverse flow on the bouncing air box.

Now that i've had some time to think about it (you know, 15minutes or so) I'm leaning towards stuck open/ crap intake valves.

Lets start over, (and I apologize for patronizing you here) you know how to do the compression test right?

Do you know if your rig works or do you assume it to? The easiest way to test the mechanism would be to grab a working car and try it and verify compression.

Assuming it checks out (I'm trying to figure out a way that the gauge works and you have zero pressure at all times, it should at least jump a little as the cylinder goes from negative to positive pressure (down stroke to upstroke..)) then your numbers can be trusted. The oil addition test you did can also be trusted.

Next it would be most helpful to do a leak test. Hopefully you have an air compressor and you can rent the rest of the tools at Autozone (assuming you don't have them already).. You inject your cylinder at TDC with air at 80-100psi and see how much leaks out. Odds are most (if not all, given your situation) the air will leak quickly, but where the air comes from tells you whats wrong with the car. Air out the exaust is exaust valves. Air out the throttle body is intake valves. Air out the PCV system is most likely cylinders or rings.

Good luck