Thread: Early HEMI

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To center the bellhousing I used a gutted tranny case with an input shaft, input bearing and retainer.

1. To do this it will also require that you have a pilot bearing in the back of the crank. If your crank is already drilled for a pilot bearing your golden, just use one with the correct OD/ID. If the crank hasn't been drilled you have a couple of options. Drill the crank for a standard Chrysler pilot bearing or build a custom one that fits into the torque converter pilot hole. If you choose the custom bearing you will need to trim to end of the tranny input shaft so it doesn't bottom in the crank.

2. Attach the flywheel to the crank and loosely bolt the bellhousing to the back of the block. Insert and bolt up the tranny case w/input shaft and bearing retainer to the bell housing. Reach inside the case and rotate the tranny input shaft, adjust the bellhousing until the shaft turns without binding on the pilot bearing. Once this is achieved the bellhousing is centered and can be tightened down.

3. Install the starter and apply 12V to the solenoid terminal (the SMALL electrical terminal on the starter). This will extend the drive pinion without spinning the starter. The distance to properly mesh the drive gear to the ring gear is the remaining amount of material that must be removed from the extended bellhousing for everything to properly fit. This final cut will align everything else(clutch disc on the input shaft and input shaft into the pilot bearing to the correct depth).

Once this is all done the final step I would do is to completely assemble everything again (to include the clutch disc) and recenter and tighten the bellhousing as described in 2 above, and drill and place a couple of alignment pins. Clutches/throwout bearings etc do wear out the pilot dowels will greatly simplify clutch changes.