Flywheel Picture

Here is the picture of my flywheel. Is the pilot busing missing or is that it. My other question was, does the flywheel it self have to be removed in order to remove the pilot bushing?

Thanks again

 

It looks to me that you don't have a pilot bushing! But if it is there the grease method works great or some auto parts stores will rent or loan you a puller.

 

If that is the pilot bushing I'd check it for wear and make sure it's a good fit for your input shaft. Also i noticed that your flywheel may need resurfacing, check that out. After going this far I'd check out clutch plate and pressure plate as well.

If you have difficulty with the pilot bush, you can rent a pilot bushing puller.

 

Flywheel

[/SIZE From the looks of that flywheel I'd take it to an auto machine shop and have it surfaced. Looks to me like a new clutch wouldn't last long.

 

Looking at your picture there does not seem to be any pilot bushing there at all.

 

I agree with the others. The hole size appears to be the same as the outside diameter of a pilot bushing.

On a 55-57, the starter bolts to the bellhousing. If your starter bolts to the block, it is a later model block/starter - the one exception, some Turboglide 57s had a block mounted starter.

 

Tried the grease method once.
Didn't work, made a big mess!

Agree. No pilot bushing in there.

 

I used grease, then found a bolt that threaded into the pilot bearing and threaded it in until it came out, the bearing didn't like it, but worked great and no damage.

 

The hole size did appears to be the same as the outside diameter of a pilot bushing, which is why I thought it was missing. It looks to me like the pilot bushing was never installed. How can someone forget to do that? My throw out bearing is shot which now I can see why.

thanks guys

 

Happy New Year everyone. Im currently in the process of replacing the clutch on my '56 Bel Air. It has a 327 with a 4 Speed Muncie. I have removed the tranny, Bell housing, preasure plate and clutch. Will I also need to remove the fly wheel in order to remove the pilot bushing. Once I get back out to my car, Im going to take a picture and post it for your opinions. It seems to me that the crank shaft doesnt even have a pilot bushing currently installed. Is this possible? I was just wondering if someone could have previously installed the clutch and forgot to install the pilot bushing. Another question I have is when removing the bell housing, I had to also remove the starter. I thought the starter bolts went through the bell housing, but now that I removed the bell housing it doesnt look like that was the case. Have you guys successfully removed the bell housing on a SBC without removing the starter? Any advice or suggestions would greatly be appreciated. Im off today, so I will be going outside right now to take a picture of my pilot bushing or missing pilot bushing to see what you guys think.
Hello Well you do not need to take the bell housing off to install the clutch JMO RICHbowtie-trifive
Thank you

 

A small sharp chisel works for me. Comes out clean.:bowtieb:

 

I figured I wouldn't have needed to remove the bell housing to replace the clutch. If I could just have cranked the motor half way, but it was just way to stiff. For future reference, any tips for cranking the motor by hand?

 

You will have problems if you do not resurface that flywheel! I tried to get away with it once years ago & just wasted my brand new clutch unit & had to do it all over again, I would suggest you spend the $50 - 75 bucks & save yourself a lot of aggravation & $$$$'s :anim_25:

 

Definitely get the flywheel resurfaced. Another thing to mention is you might have a crank that was originally installed in a car with an automatic transmission. If this is the case you will need to get a special pilot bushing.

Here is another thread on the subject:
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/201011/

Here is the bushing:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we.../product_Clutch-Pilot-Bushing-Dorman---Autograde_22148984-P_775_R|GRP60006_____

 

By the looks of the picture you have posted , I would replace that flywheel if you have a warmed over engine and crank it up once in a while. It has a lot of heat cracks and hard spots could come apart and that ain't pretty . Don

 

You may want to look in the Jegs catalog at the Performace flywheels by Daikin Clutch. They claim to be the OEM manufacturer of flywheels for GM, Ford and 11 Japanese auto manufacturers. I bought one for my 350 for $73.00. I couldn't get a used one resurfaced for that price. It's in the car 3 years now and no problems.

Don

 

I bet your pilot bushing fell out and rolled to a corner of your garage if its not on the input shaft. You had some serious vibrations without one.

 

Agree w/ all that suggest you resurface, or even replace, the flywheel. Too many stress cracks....

As to turning your engine by hand, it shouldn't be that hard to turn a little at a time, especially if you use a flywheel wrench. Might be a bit more trouble w/ a socket wrench on the harmonic balancer. But it should be a piece of cake if you remove the plugs. If it doesn't turn easily then, you've got more problems!

Mike