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Regular
Posts: 96
Location: Meridian, MS | Good Morning, I am extremely frustrated this morning after working on my project car, my 1960 Dodge Dart, last night. Last year, I rebuilt the 318A and bolted it up to the original Torqueflite transmission. The engine runs like a top, the transmission leaks like a sieve and its not shifting properly. I was able to pickup a 3-speed manual transmission plus all linkage and hardware for cheap and although the pushbutton feature is really neat, I've always wanted a manual in my project car. So I rebuild the transmission, powdercoat the linkage and hardware, resurface the flywheel, you name it...I got everything ready for the swap. Last night, I unbolt the Torqueflite and slid it out of the bellhousing and I was immediately greeted by the crankshaft flange the flywheel bolts to - I noticed there was no bore drilled into the end of the crankshaft for a pilot bushing. I have never installed a manual transmission in a car, much less a foward look car, and I wasn't sure how this project was going to go and it did not occur to me to check for a pilot bushing bore before I installed the engine and transmission and to be honest if the Torqueflite wasn't giving me issues, I probably would have left it in the car.
I say all that to ask, do I have any options for proceeding with the manual transmission install that does not include me pulling the engine out and completely disassembling the engine and get the bore machined into the crankshaft? Please help!!! Are there any adapters out there?
Edited by Chrisbarber0904 2021-03-12 9:29 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1740
  
Location: Alaska | As you found, Chrysler did not bore the crank on many engines that would have an auto bolted up. This was time and cost saving for them. AFAIK there is no easy fix. If this was an LA318 there is another way but it won't work on the early engines. |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13049
 
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | Why not change the seals and the pan gasket on the TF and adjust the throttlevalve linkage?
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Regular
Posts: 96
Location: Meridian, MS | wizard - 2021-03-12 10:59 AM Why not change the seals and the pan gasket on the TF and adjust the throttlevalve linkage? I definitely could do that. The transmission is out od the car now...long term I eventually want a standard shift. It just seemed that since the TF was acting up anyway - I might as well swap it out now. |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13049
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | Yes, fix the TF, it will be a pain to pull and demount the engine for to get the pilot hole done.
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Expert
Posts: 3776
Location: NorCal | Anybody have a pic of an undrilled early crank? |
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Regular
Posts: 96
Location: Meridian, MS | Ha ha I’ll send you a picture when I get off of work! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
| yep early bore or no bore. I had that issue once. Sucked. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8947
Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA | what year is the motor |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 769
| I have 2 61 R 413 motors. One from 61 imperial and one from a 300 G. I was going put a 61 3 speed manual behind one them. Am I going run into the same problem?
If so is the just drilling crankshaft the answer during rebuilding?
Isnt there something odd about the 61 crankshaft?
Would I have to find a later crankshaft to use in 61 motor? |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8947
Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA | i'd say the 300 is drilled , the imperial not ------------------------------------------later |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8947
Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA | the 318 , i'd say it would matter if it is a late 60 or 61 ------------------------------------------later |
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Regular
Posts: 96
Location: Meridian, MS | My 318 came out of a ‘61 Plymouth. |
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Expert
Posts: 3776
Location: NorCal | Somebody with a lathe could probably make a drill jig to drill the crank in situ. This is a diagram of the later crank pilot bushing bore dimensions.
 (pilot_bushing_hole.jpg)
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 pilot_bushing_hole.jpg (39KB - 166 downloads)
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13049
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | Yes, perhaps even possible to run the engine with a drill jig mounted on the bellhousing. But the drill holder must be totally centered and sturdy. |
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Expert
Posts: 1740
Location: Alaska | The way around this for the newer LA 318 engines is use the ball bearing pilot that is stock in newer Mopars like the Dakota. It is a press fit in the flywheel not the crank and you have to shorten the trans. input shaft some. Since the newer flywheel doesn't fit the older engines, it doesn't work for them but maybe a machine shop could make an adapter to do this. |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13049
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | Now that's a very good idea  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 888
Location: Peoples Republic of Oregon | The easy way to fix this issue is to mount a sealed bearing in the center of the flywheel. Mount a late style bearing (rockauto about $7) in a machined bushing and press into the flywheel. Photo of such here: https://www.qualityengineeredcomponents.com/?page_id=75 |
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Regular
Posts: 96
Location: Meridian, MS | wayfarer - 2021-03-14 6:11 PM The easy way to fix this issue is to mount a sealed bearing in the center of the flywheel. Mount a late style bearing (rockauto about $7 ) in a machined bushing and press into the flywheel. Photo of such here: https://www.qualityengineeredcomponents.com/?page_id=75Now this looks promising. This is the answer I was looking for. I will be getting in touch tomorrow!!! |
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318A - No pilot bushing bore in crankshaft - HELP!
