No, that was another engine that I replaced one water pump bolt - but that wouldn't cause this.

The reason it tracked to the rear is because the tensioner pulley is out of alignment with the belt angle. I'm not absolutely certain if the tensioner is bent or if it's the tensioner mounting boss on the oil pump. Since the bolt was straight and the bolt went through and threaded easily into the oil pump boss, I assume the holes and threads are in alignment - which likely means that the face of the oil pump case where the boss is cast... is bent.

The best and safest remedy is to install a new tensioner and oil pump.

It's a weird thing, but an example of how one negligent thing leads to another..... and how easy it is to miss something. I usually check things 2 or 3 times.... and pay attention to alignment of pulleys and such, but even after I saw the mess, I had to look from several angles to see that the pulley wasn't lined up exactly right - and it doesn't take much misalignment to lead a belt off course - particularly on a flat idler or a sprocket with no shoulder.

If I'd known this in advance, I probably would have pulled the engine since the mounts will now have to come off to remove the pan..... and of course, this is after I already removed the exhaust crossover, transmission stays and inspection plate to check the rear main seal - and then replaced everything - all of which now has to come off again. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

There's a pony in here somewhere. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cyclops.gif" alt="" />

Frank