1968 383. Here is a shot of the end of the crank. Engine is out of a B body, originally with an auto (I think).

It appears that this thing is ready to accept a pilot bearing, or am I wrong?

Thanks!

2

Measure the inside diameter and depth of the hole from the inside flat surface where you would start to slide the bushing in from, I hope that makes sense I have several crankshafts with stick shift bushing in them to look at and measure, usually the 383 crankshafts had a short pilot hole on the automatic cranks or the proper deep pilot hole for the bushing for the stick shift cranks Not like the 440 cranks that had a deeper hole and a smaller diameter on some of the automatic and the proper depth and I.D. on the stick crankshafts

Okay, thanks. I can look at my 400 crank too, I guess. It is a later crank '77 I think, so I'm not sure it is going to tell me a whole lot. Might not even be drilled.

Any other 4-speed guys have anything to say?

clean out the hole first so u can see whats going on.

bushing looks to still be installed imo, fill the hole with clay use a pin thats a good snug slip fit in the hole and hammer till bushing comes out add clay as needed,

I was just looking up the bushing part the other day. Here is the dimensions of the bushing:

Bushing; Bore=0.753", Outer Diameter=0.941", Width=0.88"

Rock auto has the best prices I have found for the bushings. As low as $1.23 for the Dorman #690005 upto $3.75 for the National PB286HD. Most other places are around $10?

Andy, get the roller bearing from Mopar. It goes right in the register where the Torque Converter hub sits. Then you don't have to worry if the bushing area is fully machined to accept the bushing or not. The bearing usues a mid-late 90's Ram with a stick trans in it for an application. Been awhile, but I am pretty sure the part# is 53009180AB.

--Chad

Yeah, what Chad said! Just measure the depth of the crank hole to be sure the input shaft doesn't bind there when installing the box. These roller pilot bushings can be gotten at Summit or Jamie Passon.

Thanks guys. I would rather not have to cut the input shaft, so what I have to work with appears that it won't be necessary.

The crank in my 400 was not bored to accept the input of the 4 speed. I took approx. 1/4" or so right off the end and beveled the end just like factory. It has full length in the pilot bearing even with the end cut off.
I also used a Dakota roller pilot bearing instead of the brass sleeve. It worked out awesome...and is in the car now.

Rick

It looks like a bushing is in the end already, maybe its not. Why didn't you clean it up before taking the picture?

Didn't clean it cause it was on the engine stand at the time with parts piled around it. Now that I have it on blocks, there is a bushing in there already as a few of you mentioned.

I think I will go with the roller bearing. I can't see why it would hurt to leave the bushing there, so I'll probably just leave it be. Give it all a good cleaning of course.

Thanks all.

I'd remove the old bushing when using the newer roller. You don't want to chance the input snout binding in that old bushing after going thru the roller bushing. If that makes sense.

I also run the roller for the last ten years or so with no issue.

Andy I would clean it up real good with scotch brite and leave that one in there if it's like new.If it looks worn then take it out and use the bronze one that you drive into the TC register.
I use the one on the right in the picture you can get it at the Mopar dealer.
Just a heads up when you build your stroker have the crank drilled for a Mopar input,my Eagle was not drilled deep enough and I had to whack the input on my brand new Richmond box
Gus

Gus, thanks. I am going to do just that, clean it up real good and see if it is even worth messing with.

I didn't know there were different versions of the larger style bearing. The needles worried me a little fearing that they could be a point of failure.

Yeah, I'll need to look at the crank. It is an Ohio crank 4.15 stroke and probably not drilled. Either way, going to run the 383 for a while, but I should make a note somewhere so I don't forget.