pilot bearing question

[David D.]

Re: pilot bearing question

Joe, I don't know if this help's. Back in the late 1960's, I helped swap a 1958 348/250hp engine out of a full size Chevy, that originally had a Turboglide transmission, into a 1960 Impala that had a manual transmission. When we tried to install the pilot bushing in the 348 crankshaft, we found it was a smaller inside diameter than the new pilot bearing outside diameter. At the time, the easiest way to make it fit, was to grind down the outdide diameter of the new pilot gearing, until it would fit the 348 crankshaft hole. It worked fine, with no problems, for years. If I remember correctly, I don't think the 348 engine crankshaft (possibly 283's with Turboglide, also), if used with a Turboglide transmission was even machined to accept a pilot bearing, just a rough hole. I believe after the Turboglide transmission was no longer offered, GM started machining all cranks to accept a pilot bearing. FWIW. Dave

[David D.]

Re: pilot bearing question

Joe, I don't know if this help's. Back in the late 1960's, I helped swap a 1958 348/250hp engine out of a full size Chevy, that originally had a Turboglide transmission, into a 1960 Impala that had a manual transmission. When we tried to install the pilot bushing in the 348 crankshaft, we found it was a smaller inside diameter than the new pilot bearing outside diameter. At the time, the easiest way to make it fit, was to grind down the outdide diameter of the new pilot gearing, until it would fit the 348 crankshaft hole. It worked fine, with no problems, for years. If I remember correctly, I don't think the 348 engine crankshaft (possibly 283's with Turboglide, also), if used with a Turboglide transmission was even machined to accept a pilot bearing, just a rough hole. I believe after the Turboglide transmission was no longer offered, GM started machining all cranks to accept a pilot bearing. FWIW. Dave

[John H.]

Re: pilot bearing question

The 283 Turboglide crank was the only small-block crank Chevy ever made that wouldn't accept a pilot bushing - it had a much larger recess machined in the flange to accommodate the very large pilot on the Turboglide converter. I have the forging number written down somewhere, but I can't locate it at the moment.

[John H.]

Re: pilot bearing question

The 283 Turboglide crank was the only small-block crank Chevy ever made that wouldn't accept a pilot bushing - it had a much larger recess machined in the flange to accommodate the very large pilot on the Turboglide converter. I have the forging number written down somewhere, but I can't locate it at the moment.

[Frank C.]

Re: pilot bearing question

FWIW...my '57 210 is a 283 TG car and back in the '60s I went to install a BW 4 spd. I was surprised when I went to install the pilot brg how large the recess was in the crank. I machined a steel bushing to bring the recess down to size to accept the pilot brg.

[Frank C.]

Re: pilot bearing question

FWIW...my '57 210 is a 283 TG car and back in the '60s I went to install a BW 4 spd. I was surprised when I went to install the pilot brg how large the recess was in the crank. I machined a steel bushing to bring the recess down to size to accept the pilot brg.