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Ok, I decided to install the original brass pilot bearing. The original was solid and had no issues at all. But was worried about damaging the crank by hammer it in so I pressed it in instead. Installed nice and flush and oh so clean. Glad I didn't hammer it in. Have a friend that used the old school socket and hammer method and didn't like the surface of the bearing when done. Nothing major, but I like clean no risk installs.
I completely understand your point of view and I don't believe that anyone here is knocking your experience. I cannot say for the others but my response was strictly put forth in the interest of education. I am not referring specifically to your response or this thread but there is an extreme amount of 'anything new must be crap' sentiment here on these forums which really gets under my skin at times so I seek to respectfully offer another set of information. Note that this does not mean that anything new is necessarily better, it just means there is another option and it should be investigated so that an informed decision can be made.
For me, I am using a roller bearing because the T56 conversion specifically calls for one. Thirty years ago I installed a bushing in a 500hp SBC/M21 combo that is still on the road today. The reality is that with the amount that these cars are driven, both (when properly installed) will likely outlast the owners.
I completely understand your point of view and I don't believe that anyone here is knocking your experience. I cannot say for the others but my response was strictly put forth in the interest of education. I am not referring specifically to your response or this thread but there is an extreme amount of 'anything new must be crap' sentiment here on these forums which really gets under my skin at times so I seek to respectfully offer another set of information. Note that this does not mean that anything new is necessarily better, it just means there is another option and it should be investigated so that an informed decision can be made.
For me, I am using a roller bearing because the T56 conversion specifically calls for one. Thirty years ago I installed a bushing in a 500hp SBC/M21 combo that is still on the road today. The reality is that with the amount that these cars are driven, both (when properly installed) will likely outlast the owners.
Originally Posted by Metalhead140
I don't think anyone is refuting your viewpoint, I just wish I'd read it a few weeks earlier! In truth, maybe I had read it previously (and since forgotten), maybe that's why I had originally installed the bush and left the bearing sitting on the shelf...
No offense taken guys... that's why we are all here... Sometimes old school is replaced by new school too...
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
Funny... you got two old school guys with probably 80 years combined experience saying... .just use the stock bearing. Lars, no offense meant if you are not that old... but I am.. I got a feeling you've been around as long as me. Ernie
You got us pegged, Ernie. I think your 80 years combined is dead on...
About 30 years ago, I thought the needle bearing pilot bearings were the cool thing, and I installed several of them in customer engines that I built. I really advocated the roller bearings to my customers. Over the next couple of years, I ended up eating 4 of them on warranty claims before I quit using them and went back to the solid bronze bushing (the needle bearings had a 25% failure rate over a 2-year period, so 75% of them were good...). The bronze bushings I have installed over the past 40 years have had a 0% failure rate.
As a supporting side note, in 1997, I bought a brand new Ford vehicle with a 5-speed manual transmission (front wheel drive). Ford used needle bearing pilot bearings in their cars. That factory-installed roller pilot bearing failed at 85,000 miles. When I pulled the transmission out, the roller bearing came out in small pieces... That's my 5th needle bearing pilot failure experience.
So Ernie and I will stick with the "old" stuff. We're too old to pull the same transmission out of a car more than once.
You got us pegged, Ernie. I think your 80 years combined is dead on...
About 30 years ago, I thought the needle bearing pilot bearings were the cool thing, and I installed several of them in customer engines that I built. I really advocated the roller bearings to my customers. Over the next couple of years, I ended up eating 4 of them on warranty claims before I quit using them and went back to the solid bronze bushing (the needle bearings had a 25% failure rate over a 2-year period, so 75% of them were good...). The bronze bushings I have installed over the past 40 years have had a 0% failure rate.
As a supporting side note, in 1997, I bought a brand new Ford vehicle with a 5-speed manual transmission (front wheel drive). Ford used needle bearing pilot bearings in their cars. That factory-installed roller pilot bearing failed at 85,000 miles. When I pulled the transmission out, the roller bearing came out in small pieces... That's my 5th needle bearing pilot failure experience.
So Ernie and I will stick with the "old" stuff. We're too old to pull the same transmission out of a car more than once.
Lars
Lars... I did my first Corvette show in Evansville Indiana in 1973 with my father.
At this time Ikerd's (Pat Ikerd) was still a heavy machine operator and venturing into rear end repair, Jerry Kohn (CC) was just starting to make grille teeth. It was funny because people were skeptical of them because they were reproductions. I remember going to Bloomington in 1975... and in 1975 I joined NCRS, Mbr 224 at a St. Louis show. WXVW used to carry our advertising and they also carried the Cardinals baseball games. So we scored free rooms at the Schoffers Inn and free tickets to the Cards baseball games right behind the catcher, three rows deep. The every year at the St. Louis show we'd venture on a factory tour of the plant. It was an amazing time for me for sure and I have a very funny story that happened in 1977 when a car stalled off the end line dyno.
I've paid my dues and so have you. But always remember it's not to late to teach an old dog new tricks... For me and the pilot bushings.... I'll stick with the original bushing vs. the rollers... No failures on my end either but the rollers caused me many issue and like you at one time and point I too thought they were the new cookie.
Ernie
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jun 5, 2019 at 07:44 PM.
Two summers ago before my engine and transmission rebuild I decided to have a new clutch put in at a local shop 500 miles later after lots of shift problems and clutch adjustment issues here’s what I found.
Guess what I installed on the rebuild? Yup a bronze oilite from autogear
Two summers ago before my engine and transmission rebuild I decided to have a new clutch put in at a local shop 500 miles later after lots of shift problems and clutch adjustment issues here’s what I found.
Guess what I installed on the rebuild? Yup a bronze oilite from autogear
Not for nothing, but that is a caged bearing. I would only install a full compliment bearing there...but I digress =) The bushing will be just fine.
I got a feeling you've been around as long as me. 
