changing the clutch out. got everything out and the clutch/bell housing reinstalled. But now, we cannot get the tranny input shaft through the clutch and flywheel if our lives depended on it. any tricks, it seems like we have tried everytyhing. thanks for any help, we need it!

 

anyone?? BTW, does the pilot bearing need to be removed/replaced?

 

Sounds like you have a misaligned clutch disc. To get the input shaft through the clutch disc, try rotating the shaft a little bit until the splines match up and it slides through. To get the input shaft seated in the pilot bearing, try this

Make sure you have adequately greased the pilot bearing and that none of the needle rollers in there have fallen out.

EDIT: CRAP!!! I just noticed you have an LS1 car. If that's the one you are working on, then that trick won't work. It works only with the LT1's pull style clutch.

 

you could try heating the clutch/flywheel to make it expand...possibly. But yea, make sure you got the splines lined up.

 

IMHO, that's the perfect recipe for warping your flywheel and losing the temper of the springs in the pressure plate .

 

I have no clue, I think I am going to have to back the tranny off again and take a look at the pilot bearing...

 

Insert the drive shaft into the tranny and use it to rotate the input shaft to help align it with the splines in the clutch. If that doesn't work...try to realign the clutch.

 

Do you have an actual bearing or a bushing? Either way...I would replace it while you have the tranny out. FWIW...from my understanding, the bushing is suppose to be more reliable.

 

Carlos, that is one bad *** car you got man . Very nice!!

BTW, how did you lower it so much. In some of the pics it looks like the body is resting on the garage floor .