Fun with Pilot Bushings

FWIW, I'm changing out a pilot bushing, do not know for certain why it failed, but it failed. Did not damage the pilot shaft but a little more use and it probably would have. Put the old bushing near a magnet and sure enough it contains a lot of iron. Got a couple solid bronze bushings for a Chevy at the industrial engine store to custom fit for the GM crank with a T90. The shop foreman at NAPA thought I was full of it, he says "We only sell the good stuff!!!" but he changed his tune about 180 degrees when he pulled one of their bushings off the shelf and stuck it on a magnet. I only put on a couple thousand miles since doing the clutch, transmission, and T/C, so the thought of pulling it out again for that little bushing really disgusted me :evil:, the poor thing has been resting in the garage for right at 53 weeks now. I just figure that's why a person should have two, maybe three Jeeps???

 

Wow, good call with the magnet. may just start turning my own! lol..

 

"I just figure that's why a person should have two, maybe three Jeeps???"

I say, if some are good, then too many is just right...

 

As a parting FWIW, I've got a stock 225 with Herm's T90 in a T86 case. With the gm pilot bushing seated flush it it's bore, the T90 pilot shaft only engages about 3/4ths of the inside bore of the bushing, The shaft is just a hair short, it was new, I'm assuming they are all the same. There is a bushing available for hi-perf. GM using a motor plate that is about 1/4 in. longer with a shoulder that seats up against the crank, and I have to wonder if it would be the way to go in this application, with the inside reamed out to .631 or so? http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Chevy-Extra-Long-Pilot-Bushing,6974.html

 

IMHO the 3/4 engaged pilot bushing is marginally acceptable.
The custom bushing with a shoulder would be a better option.

I have one or two genuine OEM NOS (sinterred bronze) bushings available for Dauntless 225 using T86 or T14 pilot.

 

oldtime: Sent you a PM.