pilot Bearing problem
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
pilot Bearing problem
I am working on restoring a 59 corvette. The block is a 283 cast in Dec 1958 (not original to the car). I bought a new clutch kit that came with a new pilot bearing.
The OD of the bearing is 1.094" but the hole in the end of the crank is 1.062. No way the new bearing is going in with a .032 press fit (I tried a little). I have put in pilot bearings before
but only in newer engines - - they tap right in. The beaaring that came out was 1.0625 OD. Looking at replacement pilot bearing for 283 engines they are all 1.094 OD.
What am I missing? Is the crank not from the engine? Should I buy another pilot bearing and turn down the OD to maybe 1.063?
Anyone had this problem?
Thanks for any suggestions
Reggie
The OD of the bearing is 1.094" but the hole in the end of the crank is 1.062. No way the new bearing is going in with a .032 press fit (I tried a little). I have put in pilot bearings before
but only in newer engines - - they tap right in. The beaaring that came out was 1.0625 OD. Looking at replacement pilot bearing for 283 engines they are all 1.094 OD.
What am I missing? Is the crank not from the engine? Should I buy another pilot bearing and turn down the OD to maybe 1.063?
Anyone had this problem?
Thanks for any suggestions
Reggie
Racer
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 310
Likes: 114
From: Pachuta, MS
This is what you need. These are for engines that started out as Powerglides but never received the enlarged bore required for a manual transmission.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/19257555683...UaAtNPEALw_wcB
https://www.ebay.com/itm/19257555683...UaAtNPEALw_wcB
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
This is what you need. These are for engines that started out as Powerglides but never received the enlarged bore required for a manual transmission.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/19257555683...UaAtNPEALw_wcB
https://www.ebay.com/itm/19257555683...UaAtNPEALw_wcB
I ordered the part just a minute ago.
I have no idea what this engine was is in. It was just sitting in a junk pile when I bought it so maybe it had a powerglide.
Thanks again,
Reggie
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,515
Likes: 1,932
From: Folsom CA
Many years ago sometimes when buying a new pilot bearing it would come out of the box and was shiny rather than dark oil soaked. We used to have a camping burner and a coffee can with oil in it. We would heat up the oil in the coffee can and drop the shiny new pilot bearing in and cook it for 1/2 hour. Then remove, let it cool before install.
I think we learned you needed to order the HD version if you wanted it Oil soaked.
Obviously buying the Oil lite bushing eliminated the coffee can step but they were not always available when a job needed to be done. The coffee can trick worked many times to keep a pilot bushing quiet.
A neighbor had a busy shop and he instructed us on that tip when we were just kids. With three teenage boys in the family and lots of friends with 4 speeds we often had a tranny out for a clutch job.
Later in life working for Federal Mogul we sold the BCA PB 656 both ways, HD was oil soaked, the non HD was shiny out of the box but cost less so we sold lots of the shiny versions.
I think we learned you needed to order the HD version if you wanted it Oil soaked.
Obviously buying the Oil lite bushing eliminated the coffee can step but they were not always available when a job needed to be done. The coffee can trick worked many times to keep a pilot bushing quiet.
A neighbor had a busy shop and he instructed us on that tip when we were just kids. With three teenage boys in the family and lots of friends with 4 speeds we often had a tranny out for a clutch job.
Later in life working for Federal Mogul we sold the BCA PB 656 both ways, HD was oil soaked, the non HD was shiny out of the box but cost less so we sold lots of the shiny versions.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 310
Likes: 114
From: Pachuta, MS
None but the early cars had an initial bore that was enlarged for the cars/trucks with manuals. The torque converters were piloted/centered by the inner machined surface of the crankshaft hub that all crankshafts have and during that operation the initial bore was made. It's a good thing because otherwise, converting from Powerglides to manual would have been much harder.
Last edited by acstephenson; Jun 7, 2026 at 09:56 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,515
Likes: 1,932
From: Folsom CA
Over the years I ran into others that had cooked pilot bearings in oil also but I never asked about how they cooled them. Your method would be superior for sure. We all agreed it was a job that had to be done outside! It was stinky and if you got to hot you know what happened to the oil in the can.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 1,640
Likes: 1,072
From: Florida
This story is about 40 years old, But, my Mechanic friend had a couple of new clutches he installed that had a chattering problem.... The parts house brought out the Sales Representative for the manufacturer of the pilot bushings and asked him if he had greased or lubed them.. He had put a touch of grease on them.. The Rep told him to NEVER lube them at all.. He replaced the pilot bushings in the two cars with new ones that he installed dry and the chattering problem went away.... . 40 years later he still installs them :"dry" and they all have worked fine
Last edited by Limp; Jun 7, 2026 at 08:30 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
Wow - - I thought all was good from the first two replies. I ordered the bearing assuming it is the sintered metal type since this is the only type I have ever seen. I have never had to cook one.
Now I am going to have to check with a magnetic and make sure it is not the solid type. I did check the one that came out and it was a solid bearing - - not sintered prelubed that I am used to and it was badly worn
out..
Hopefully this will go smoothly.
Thanks for additional info - - although being dumb in the first place did have its advantages
.
Reggie
Now I am going to have to check with a magnetic and make sure it is not the solid type. I did check the one that came out and it was a solid bearing - - not sintered prelubed that I am used to and it was badly worn
out..
Hopefully this will go smoothly.
Thanks for additional info - - although being dumb in the first place did have its advantages
.Reggie