The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Install manual trans - stops 1/8" from bell housing

We are trying to install our rebuilt SM318 manual transmission onto our 1960 Chevy Apache, and the transmission stops about 1/8th of an inch from the bell housing.

We installed a new pilot bearing with a new clutch and pressure plate. The trans goes in about 1/4 of an inch before feeling a little resistance. We can swivel the trans back and forth and wiggle it to about 1/8th of an inch before it seems to not move closer.

A friend had the same issue with their 1982 Chevy truck and eventually took it to a transmission shop to get it installed. The shop claimed the pilot bearing was put in crookedly.

Has anyone else run into this problem?

The pilot bearing is about the only thing that can stop it where you at now. How hard are you pushing. I have been installing transmission for 70 years sometime they can be stubborn. Did you use a pilot shaft or alignment tool? I prefer an old pilot shaft over a plastic alignment tool.

Did you use guide pins in the top 2 holes in the bell housing when you installed it?

Even with a plastic alignment tool, it can be tough to get the shaft into the pilot bearing. I've pried on the clutch arm to release the clutch disc and it slips right in place. Definitely use guide pins on the top bell housing holes like Carl mentioned.
The only way the pilot bushing could be installed crooked is if the crankshaft is bored crooked, and that's not likely.

Thanks for the replies!


We did not remove the bell housing. The bell housing is attached to the engine and the frame, with the transmission hanging off the back of it. See the pic showing the trans before removal.


We did use the plastic alignment tool and can see how that might get you close, but not as close as if we used an original metal shaft. We are supposed to pick up all the spare transmission parts from the shop we use to rebuild ours. Maybe we can realign the clutch with the spare shaft, but I will try to pry the clutch arm first to see if that gets the transmission in.

The engine has never been rebuilt or changed, so I agree with you that the pilot bushing cannot be installed crooked like the transmission place told my friend.