4 speed pilot bearing issue

I ran across a problem I’ve never seen before. I’m working on a external balanced 76 440 cast crank engine that had a nice stock rebuild with a std/std crank even. The problem was it was installed in a 4 speed application with a neutral balance flywheel. Of coarse it has a vibration. The crank had no hole at all drilled for the bushing so they used the newer ball bearing pilot that fits into the larger torque converter register and chopped off the input for the hemi four speed. My plan is to replace the crank with a forged crank I have and balance the assembly. I may not have a true 4 speed shaft to use on this application. It is a temporary fixed for a customer just to get his car running, while we build a good motor. I may have to use the same type of bearing for the next build. However, the one in the cast crank right now is very loose.. I can’t quite pull it out with one finger but it is loose and wobbles in the crank. It this a common problems with these bushings? My thought is it it loose because of the out of balance issues. I have not looked at the inside of the four speed yet but the picture he sent me when he drained the grease from it had metal on the magnetic plug more than I’d like to see. Judging by the condition of the engine, this situation does not have many miles on it. Has anyone ever seen a loose bearing like this.?

This reminds me of an issue I had 40 years ago in my 4 speed days. I was lucky enough to have a crank in my 340 that had the smaller hole but the bushing slid in and out. After trying a few backwoods mechanic tricks a buddy of mine finally machined me a very nice bushing. Seeing a broken bearing retainer on the floor he also made me up one in stainless steel instead of the stock cast iron. Silly question here but did he ever do mods to his suspension and if so did he double check his pinion angle. I swear standard transmission cars seem more critical to this.

Mark I would look at the bellhousing alignment first when there is a worn pilot bearing. Metal on the magnet of a manual transmission is common because of the very nature of the gear to gear contact. I use the new style bearing that fits into the register but I was lucky enough to find one of the older ones with the bronze busing instead of the needle bearing unit.
Gus

Thanks. I’ll check alignment for sure.