302 Pilot bearing woes

[Andy FIA]

After 4 months having great fun riding my KTM dirt bike, I finally decided to take the cover off the car and drop the Tremec out of the Hi-Tech to find out why it refused to change gear (After only 2000 miles).

The pilot bushing was found to be totally shot, so I deduced that the input shaft must have being doing a slalom! when the clutch was meant to be disengaged.
As this is my first foray into the Cobra clutch, (the car came complete from Hi-Tech) I need some help with the following:

1. What is the OD of the 10 spline Tremec 3550 input shaft at the crank pilot bushing, mine is 0.668" (16.98mm) is this correct?

2. Is there a needle roller pilot bearing available for the Tremec input shaft OD?

3. I ordered a 10.5" Mcleod clutch and hyd T/O bearing with the engine trans combination, is it possible to visibly identify a Mcleod clutch from a Ram etc? The disc has 6 springs on the hub and has no markings apart from "Made in the USA" on the hub and "M" stamped on the rivets. The friction material is of a "cross" shape on the flywheel side.
The diaphragm pressure plate is painted red and has QKV45 stamped on one of the fingers and "Valeo" on the cover.

4. I have noticed that the steel flywheel is very smooth and polished while the pressure plate metal looks to have been hardly worn by the friction disc, and all of the original machining marks are still visible? can anyone account for this?

Any help would be appreciated

Andy

[aumoore]

The big block guys will blame it on the baby motor.

I am running a T-5 behind my 5.0 explorer motor. If I remember correctly the pilot bearing came from ford and is a roller bearing piece. I would check at your local Ford dealer

[Clois Harlan]

Hello Andy,

My first engine and transmission was a beafed up 302 with a
T-5. I bought my input bearing from Pep Boys for about $10 and it was a roller needle bearing. Never had a minutes problem with it. You can order one through Summitt Racing online for about the same price. Be sure and mic your input shaft and check it with the orig spec's just to make sure you haven't altered your tolerance. Good luck.

Clois Harlan

[Satanpez]

I believe Ford Clutch Kits are made by Valeo. Possibly it's stock ford or one of the upgraded (King Cobra) setups.

-steve in nj-

[Andy FIA]

Thanks for the info guys, can I assume that the pilot bearing ID for a T5 is the same as for the Tremec?

Andy

[Mr.Fixit]

Your disk is a McLeod. There is a roller pilot shaft bearing available, I don't have the part #. Check your bellhousing to crankshaft alignment, you may need to correct with offset bushings, don't worry about the appearance of the flywheel unless it is really groovy or blue.

[Andy FIA]

Thanks Mr Fixit, I am in the process of checking the bell housing alignment at present, but my magnetic stand has lost some of its magnetism and dosen't want to stay on the flywheel1 I think that I will screw a long stud into one of the six flywheel bolt holes and use that as a stand.

Andy