I did a T-56 swap, & my pilot bushing went out after about 20K miles. I think the first bushing failed because I pounded it so much when I installed it. The tranny end of the bushing had actually mushroomed probably 1/32nd of an inch because I hammered on it so much. Even with all that hammering, the bushing wasn't flush with the crank.

Now I'm installing another bushing, & I don't want to have the same problem. Ive got about 2/3 of the bushing in now, & it seems like it has stopped, no matter how much I pound on it. To get it in any further, I would have to use a socket to pound on, & that would ruin the bushing again. I've been pounding on the bushing for 30-45 minutes now. There is no way this can be right...the entire tranny swap was easier than this. This is the second bushing I've had that is this way (from Autozone). Is this normal? Anyone have tips on installing the bushing? Is this one the wrong size or what?

This time before inserting the bushing, I cleaned the crank hole with steel wool & a drill. I also lubed the bushing, but neither really seemed to help. Give me some tips, I need to get it together before Monday.

 

to install mine i always use a ball-pien (sp?) hammer that i have. one side is a flat end and the other is a ball. the flat side is bigger than the pilot bushing but small enough to fit in the recessed area where the pilot bushing goes. i put the bushing in and hit the ball end of the hammer with a lead mallet i have and it drives the bushing in with about 5-7 good smacks. the bushing is always flush with the opening because the hammers flat end is a little bigger than the pilot bushing hole in the crankshaft. also doesnt mushroom the brass bushing since the hammers flat end is bigger than the bushing. works perfect every time for me.

good choice going with the bushing and not the bearing.

 

Where do you get your bushing? There is NO WAY this bushing would go in with 5-7 hits, MAYBE if you had the crank out & were hitting it with a 20 lbs sledge. I'm not exagerating, it is really that tight. I seriously pounded on it for 30-45 minutes to get it 2/3rds of the way in.

 

um sorry, yes it does go in that quick. im not a huge guy either (5'10 and 175lbs). im using a lead mallet that is a dead weight. drives better than normal hammer. and holding the ball pein hammers handle gets my fingers away from hold a socket up to the bushing and smashing my fingers. i can smack the **** out of the hammer and it drives the bushing right in with no problem. i just changed a failed roller bearing to a bushing and the longest part of the swap was going to autozone to rent and return a slide hammer (also where my bushing came from) to remove the old bushing. i had the new one in with no problem. ill take a picture of the hammer im talking about and a picture of the new bushing in the motor (tranny not in yet, getting aluminum flywheel.

 

hey i just noticed your in dallas area, i am too, if you want proof i can do it that quick, buy a bushing and pm me on how to get directions to me and ill put it in for you.

 

I was wondering if I had the wrong bushing or something. I sure couldn't get it in that easy. I just got another bushing, I'm about to go put it in. Sending you a PM...