Looks as if the gear meshing forces are pushing the intermediate shaft forward.

Could the geometry of the cam or shaft gear be off somehow??
Was the oil pump allowed to find it's alignment with the shaft before tightening??

Just thinking out loud...

Joe

PS, if the intermediate shaft gear was pinned to the shaft a little high or low??
Can you measure and compare?

Last edited by jlatessa; 04/02/19 11:04 AM.