Hello, friends.

Well, we have the aluminum engine out of the '61 Plymouth and the '80 iron block ready to drop in. As advised, we are having the flywheel machined to fit the larger end of the new crankshaft.

However, we discovered another issue relating to the 3-speed manual tranny: Where the shaft from the tranny goes into the crankshaft (the pilot bearing), the depth on the aluminum engine is early 3/4 inch deeper! This will result in the tranny sitting back further/not bolting up. Any suggestion on how to remedy? We are thinking about having the shaft on the tranny cut...is this the only alternative?

Thanks, as always!

I'm not sure if that matters, the input shaft only protrudes a short ways into the crank and is supported by the bushing...

If worried about it you can measure the how much protrudes past the face of the bellhousing (where it mates to the block), using a straightedge.
then check the depth of the bore from the mating edge of the block (may require a few measurements and some algebra).

So far in all the cranks I've had finished and unfinished, have I seen the pocket "not deep enough", but have seen a couple pics on mopar V-8's mated to automatics that didn't have the pilot bore even roughed in...

Do some math and see where it sits, I suspect the input shaft isn't "too long" for the late block.

-D.Idiot

Cut the input and get a pilot bearing for a V-6 Dakota truck. It will drive into the register on the back of the crank and you're done.

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