1979 L48 with manual trans changing the clutch
10-13-2017, 12:00 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
1979 L48 with manual trans changing the clutch
I have a 1979 L48 and I am changing the clutch, flywheel, throw out bearing, and pressure plate. I did not see a pilot bearing, is there a pilot bearing in this setup, if so where is it installed and where can I get one. Thanks for all your help
Had one more question, when tightening down the bolts to attach the fly wheel, is there a trick to keeping the motor from turning besides putting a socket on the front crank pulley?
Had one more question, when tightening down the bolts to attach the fly wheel, is there a trick to keeping the motor from turning besides putting a socket on the front crank pulley?
Last edited by r16678; 10-13-2017 at 12:08 PM.
10-13-2017, 12:23 PM
#2
Pro
Member Since: Sep 2017
Location: Modesto California
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
Received 71 Likes
on
71 Posts
I have a 1979 L48 and I am changing the clutch, flywheel, throw out bearing, and pressure plate. I did not see a pilot bearing, is there a pilot bearing in this setup, if so where is it installed and where can I get one. Thanks for all your help
Had one more question, when tightening down the bolts to attach the fly wheel, is there a trick to keeping the motor from turning besides putting a socket on the front crank pulley?
Had one more question, when tightening down the bolts to attach the fly wheel, is there a trick to keeping the motor from turning besides putting a socket on the front crank pulley?
The pilot bushing is pressed into the rear of the crankshaft.
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-13-2017)
10-13-2017, 12:38 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Pilot bushing should be changed every clutch change, might as well since have apart and cheap.
They make a flywheel holder/turner you can use to hold it, I've jammed long screw drivers against flywheel ring to stop from turning before.
They make a flywheel holder/turner you can use to hold it, I've jammed long screw drivers against flywheel ring to stop from turning before.
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-13-2017)
10-13-2017, 01:35 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Do your research on the correct pilot because they will try to sell you the roller one. The guy at Napa argued with me about it. I lucked up and found one at my Orielys.
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-13-2017)
10-13-2017, 01:44 PM
#5
Melting Slicks
Changed out pilot bearing during tranny swap. I read up on the easiest way to remove pilot bearing. Lots of different techniques. I used the white bread method and damn if it did not work.
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-13-2017)
10-13-2017, 01:48 PM
#6
Drifting
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Forth Worth TX
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 0
Received 148 Likes
on
136 Posts
Various auto part stores will also "rent" you(sometimes free) a Pilot Bearing Puller.
Agree with above, don't use a roller bearing type pilot bearing. Just use the tried and true bronze one.
Agree with above, don't use a roller bearing type pilot bearing. Just use the tried and true bronze one.
Last edited by Revi; 10-13-2017 at 01:49 PM.
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-13-2017)
10-13-2017, 02:43 PM
#7
Pro
Member Since: Sep 2017
Location: Modesto California
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
Received 71 Likes
on
71 Posts
"The white bread method"? Is that like using a heavy grease and using hydraulic pressure to push it out? In the past I have tapped them then used a long screw to force it out when the screw bottoms out.
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-13-2017)
10-13-2017, 03:05 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
You can find it on You Tube.
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-13-2017)
10-13-2017, 03:10 PM
#9
Pilot bearing is sunk in the center rear of the crankshaft. You can see it once you pull the pressure plate. I have a machined install tool/punch and pack my bearings with grease and then tap the tooling in to force the bearing out. Several methods to try.
As mentioned above, USE THE SOLID BRONZE BEARING.
To hold the flywheel, I wrap a rag on a spot in the ring gear and clamp on a set of vice grips, which can be wedged against a bellhousing dowel or a bolt temporarily screwed into the block. Works just fine.
As mentioned above, USE THE SOLID BRONZE BEARING.
To hold the flywheel, I wrap a rag on a spot in the ring gear and clamp on a set of vice grips, which can be wedged against a bellhousing dowel or a bolt temporarily screwed into the block. Works just fine.
10-13-2017, 05:52 PM
#10
Racer
Thread Starter
Pilot bearing is sunk in the center rear of the crankshaft. You can see it once you pull the pressure plate. I have a machined install tool/punch and pack my bearings with grease and then tap the tooling in to force the bearing out. Several methods to try.
As mentioned above, USE THE SOLID BRONZE BEARING.
To hold the flywheel, I wrap a rag on a spot in the ring gear and clamp on a set of vice grips, which can be wedged against a bellhousing dowel or a bolt temporarily screwed into the block. Works just fine.
As mentioned above, USE THE SOLID BRONZE BEARING.
To hold the flywheel, I wrap a rag on a spot in the ring gear and clamp on a set of vice grips, which can be wedged against a bellhousing dowel or a bolt temporarily screwed into the block. Works just fine.
10-13-2017, 06:33 PM
#11
When I did my TKO600 swap, I jammed playdoh into the pilot bushing, then used a 3/8" ratchet extension. Pressed it onto the playdoh, then tapped with a hammer. Bushing popped right out.
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-15-2017)
10-13-2017, 11:42 PM
#12
Team Owner
Why are you against roller bearings. If you think about it a properly dialed in bell housings. The tranny input shaft should never touch the pilot bearing
10-14-2017, 12:19 AM
#13
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
Posts: 81,242
Received 3,043 Likes
on
2,602 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05
tried that grease and bread deal just made a mess & pizzed me off 
Op make sure the new one fits over your input shaft before reinstalling
Op make sure the new one fits over your input shaft before reinstalling
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-15-2017)
10-14-2017, 03:35 AM
#14
Safety Car
So is your transmission a cast iron or aluminum case? Some 79 L48s were shipped with the Saginaw Munce M20. In which case, you may come across parts availability limitations.
The 78/79 Muncie Four-Speed
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-15-2017)
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-15-2017)
10-14-2017, 07:55 AM
#16
Le Mans Master
L-48's did not come with the super T-10 close ratio 4 speeds (the L-82's), only the wide ratio sagninaw's, as far as I know. The L-48 2.85 Low first gear tranny's are Saginaws
Last edited by jb78L-82; 10-14-2017 at 07:58 AM.
10-14-2017, 10:06 AM
#17
Team Owner
Roller rockers, roller lifters, floating pin pistons, and roller bearing cam shafts. Have much less mechanical friction loss
Because grandpa cut off the top of a valve cover to adjust the valves doesn't mean that is the best valve train or adjustment method
The roller is supior
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-15-2017)
10-14-2017, 05:10 PM
#18
Drifting
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Forth Worth TX
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 0
Received 148 Likes
on
136 Posts
The engineer is over written by the bean counters.
Roller rockers, roller lifters, floating pin pistons, and roller bearing cam shafts. Have much less mechanical friction loss
Because grandpa cut off the top of a valve cover to adjust the valves doesn't mean that is the best valve train or adjustment method
The roller is supior
Roller rockers, roller lifters, floating pin pistons, and roller bearing cam shafts. Have much less mechanical friction loss
Because grandpa cut off the top of a valve cover to adjust the valves doesn't mean that is the best valve train or adjustment method
The roller is supior
A roller bearing can/will fail into numerous parts and trying to remove just the outer race is a b1tch. The old bread/grease trick will not work. A bronze bearing may wear, but it doesn't break apart into pieces.
Any performance/wear differences between the two is minuscule compared to having to replace a failed roller bearing. Moving parts (roller bearing) fail far more than non moving (bronze) parts.
I've never had a bronze bearing fail on me, I can't say the same for a roller bearing.
Last edited by Revi; 10-15-2017 at 10:12 AM.
10-14-2017, 11:33 PM
#19
Team Owner
What if I said that in my life neither one or kind has failed with perfectly dialed in bell housings. So removal wasn't a problem
If you have a centered tranny input shaft and dump the clutch on a high hp quality motor it might have the ability to tq bend the shaft into the crank bearing
All the high quality motors I have built at the shop get roller parts including my own tko 600
If you have a centered tranny input shaft and dump the clutch on a high hp quality motor it might have the ability to tq bend the shaft into the crank bearing
All the high quality motors I have built at the shop get roller parts including my own tko 600
The following users liked this post:
r16678 (10-15-2017)
10-15-2017, 10:32 PM
#20
Racer
Thread Starter
So is your transmission a cast iron or aluminum case? Some 79 L48s were shipped with the Saginaw Munce M20. In which case, you may come across parts availability limitations.
The 78/79 Muncie Four-Speed
The 78/79 Muncie Four-Speed