Cascade Crew

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

Well guys, I'm having a lot of trouble getting the correct pilot bushing/bearing for my firebird. I have tried all of the local stores (oreilly, autozone, napa) and the part they all try to give me appears to be correct for a SBC with a 2 piece seal. I need one for a 1 piece seal. Even the clutch kit I bought for the car came with a pilot bushing that was much to large. Anyone replace one recently and able to help me out? Right now I believe my pilot bushing is shot and causing my clutch to chatter in neutral and grab slightly making it nearly impossible to shift correctly. It started about 2 weeks ago and has been getting progressively worse every day. (I have checked the hydraulics and measured the fork travel IAW with the service manual.) The engine is a 1988 TPI 305. Please help! I've only got 2 1/2 weeks until I deploy and I'd like to have a car until then.

iansane · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 11:30 pm Post subject:

Dorman pt# 690-014; on the left

Pretty much the same bushing they used for 25 years. I used the same one on my LS motor. Smile

How big is the one their giving you? Pictures?

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

Well I'll have to drop the transmission to get a picture of the one installed and the crank, but the one I had used in the old motor looks just like the ones you pictured. The one I found and installed is about 1/8-1/4 inch smaller in diameter (around .8 total) but is the same internal diameter. Also my crank looks different than my old (1 piece) did on the old engine. I'll have to get pictures to explain. I really wish I had looked at it more before sending it off to the machine shop.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

I'd also like to note that my current theory as to why my clutch grabs when disengaged is that my old T5 really really sucks and needs to be rebuilt therefore the bad pilot bearing allows the input shaft + clutch to move around and pivot and grab enough to screw up my shifts. If the bushing/bearings are truly supposed to be the same then the only thing I can think of to make mine seem different would be if something else such as the old race from the old bearing was left in or something like that. I'm really curious about this now.

I'm just trying to baby that tranny for 2 weeks until I leave and come back with the money for a T56.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 5:26 am Post subject:

1piece crank/2piece crank use the same bushing/bearing. Ian posted a picture of the proper part.

Use a bushing, not a bearing.

chevymad · Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 6:39 am Post subject:

If you notice the bearing style pilot on the right, it is made of 2 pieces. There's a spacer and a really thin bearing. It's possible that only the bearing part has been removed maybe.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick