Transmission install problems

[verywidebody]

Ok fellas I have a 1978 vett with a muncie m20 and a 350. I am in the middle of a frame off and we have been trying to install the new clutch and mount the trans.Everything is new or has been rebuilt.Flywheel,pilot bushing,clutch,clutch plate, and throwout bearing are all new and engine and trans rebuilt. After assembling clutch, clutch plate and bell housing I can get the transmission within a half inch of the bell housing and then it just stops. We are using a clutch alignment tool and have verified measurements I have taken this thing apart and reassembled it numerous times with the same results. I also have a corvette restoration guy who comes to my house once a week to work on my car who can't figure it out either. The only other thing to mention at this point is that the bell housing is a two piece lakewood and the cluch and clutch plate are a center force series 1. Anyone ever had this issue before????

[iburke]

Measure the distance from the pilot bushing to the face of the bell housing. And the distance from the face of the transmission to end of the splines on the input shaft, this should be the same or shorter by a little as the first measurement. If not I would start by checking to see if the pilot bushing is seated all the way?

[C5 Dude]

I had this problem back in the day. Take a ruler or in my case I used a long level and measure from the level acros the transmission to the end of the input shaft on the transmission. Then put the level on the engine mounting flange and measure to the inside of the pilot bearing. That will tell you if the input shaft is within a length that will let it slide in. If it within the right lenths than you should pull the pilot bearing back out and make sure it will slide on the input shaft completely. The inner bearings of the pilot bearing should slide easily over the transmission input shaft outer most part. I have seen where the input shaft will slide through the pilot bearings outer rim but then jam up on the outer eadge of the inner pilot bearings. Just something you can check if you havn't already.

[Texdentist]

I have had the parts place give me the wrong pilot bushing. After installation, the transmission would not go completely into place. The bushing opening was slightly smaller than the correct one. After that, I always slid the pilot bushing over the end of the spline shaft before installing.

[grumpyvette]

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...+bearing#p6689

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...=splines#p9431

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...&hilit=splines

the threads above might be useful

The guys are likely correct that its the pilot bearing, but Id also verify the clutch disk is facing the correct direction , the disk slides thru the splines and the throw-out bearing slides easily on the trans collar , and your using the correct throw out bearing type

[verywidebody]

Thanks everybody for the responses
I think it is the clutch line up tool not being perfectly aligned or something thats holding the input snout slightly off center. We have measured every piece and distance and they seem to check out properly. I even removed the new pilot bushing and installed a different one. The frustrating thing about this is that this engine,bellhousing and transmission were all together when I bought the car.

Question
Would installing a new clutch and clutch plate cause the bellhousing to be off center?

If I take the clutch and clutch plate out the trans goes right into place

[grumpyvette]

If your bell housing and clutch linkage are in place,you might try depressing the clutch petal to free up the clutch disk, so the trans will more easily self align with the pilot bearing if its a couple thousands off, but ID tend to think the bell housing alignments off if thats required

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...l+housing#p757

[C5 Dude]

Originally Posted by verywidebody

Question Would installing a new clutch and clutch plate cause the bellhousing to be off center?

If I take the clutch and clutch plate out the trans goes right into place

If you have an after market clutch plate and clutch the rise could be the problem. Lay the old clutch and the new clutch side by side and see if they are the same hight, do the same with the new slave and throw out bearing and see if you have any major hight differences. Are you using the original slave fork? It's been awhile since I have had to mess with the older style slaves...but the fork could be different than what the after market high performance clutch will work with. If its too thick on the output shaft it could actually be engaging the clutch while you are trying to shoot it. Of course if yours is the kind you put the fork in after its shot and intsalled that would moot that idea....just an idea I guess. I feel old trying to remember....