Do I Need the Pilot Bushing in my Auto?

[combatmedic]

So my 6 bolt engine came with a flywheel driveplate I think its called, from what I have read you only need that if it is an auto car, is this correct?? Because I didn't see it on the 7 bolt that I pulled out of my car

with some more searching I realized that the driveplate is only for autos so I can just remove it and bolt up my flywheel, clutch and pressure plate right?

 

[gofer]

So my 6 bolt engine came with a flywheel driveplate I think its called, from what I have read you only need that if it is an auto car, is this correct?? Because I didn't see it on the 7 bolt that I pulled out of my car

with some more searching I realized that the driveplate is only for autos so I can just remove it and bolt up my flywheel, clutch and pressure plate right?

A/T have a flexplate (which I think is what you keep referring to as the driveplate) that the M/T's DO NOT use. If your putting a flywheel/pressure plate/clutch on a previous A/T engine you need to ENSURE you remove the spacer thats pressed into the crankshaft.

Heres a picture of the spacer that must come out or else your flywheel won't sit flush on the crank.

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Heres what it should look like with the spacer removed from the crankshaft.

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The above pictures are on a 7 bolt but looks exactly the same on a 6 bolt.

 

[combatmedic]

thanks for the info, does the spacer just pull out?

 

[toofast82]

thanks for the info, does the spacer just pull out?

They CAN be an incredible pain in the ass to get out.
When I swapped my car to 5spd, I spent more time getting that bushing out than any other aspect of the swap. As well as having to purchase another $80 dremel,
I may have had an extreme case, but I tried everything from the "hydraulic grease" trick to a pilot bushing puller, to a huge screwdriver and prybar.
In the end, I had to cut it in about 4-5 places to finally hammer it out.

 

[combatmedic]

damn, I hope mine isnt that hard to get out. I have another question do I need a clutch alignment tool or can I just install the clutch and pp without one?

 

[1995gsxawd]

i guess u dont need the tool but its only like 3 bucks and youll know u did it right

 

[combatmedic]

well if its only like 3 bucks then I might as well buy it.

 

[gofer]

thanks for the info, does the spacer just pull out?

When I did my A/T to M/T, fwd to awd conversion this spacer put us out of business for about 6 or 7 hours because we couldn't get it out. When you get to that point of the install and you cant get the spacer out let me know...



EDIT
Decided to post up pics of how to get the damn spacer out of there.

After trying vise grips, plyers, & breaking prybars we had all but given up. I even tried using the handle off the jack and hammering it in there and then prying it out that way, when it bent thats what gave us this idea. Use lots of axle grease, I had a torn CV boot so we just used the grease out of it. Measure the inside diameter of the spacer and then jump in the car and head to Home Depot. Go to their wood dowel section and find a wooden dowel thats the same diameter of the spacer and about 5ft long. Then center the dowel on the spacer and hammer it in as far as it will go and then push down and it will pop loose with hardly any effort at all... Here are the pictures.

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And here is a pic of that "drive plate" off the A/T, its really called a flexplate and needs to be removed too.

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[ThomasG-1b]

You need the tool or else you will distroy your new clutch.

 

[gofer]

You need the tool or else you will distroy your new clutch.

Most clutch kits come with a plastic clutch alignment tool, thats if ofcourse you bought the clutch new? If you have no idea what the alignment tool looks like heres another picture, its the black plastic piece in the middle.

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[combatmedic]

I wish I would have seen that post because I spent about 3 hours getting that spacer out, finally cut it into pieces. I installed the clutch without the tool and what way do you face the clutch?

 

[gofer]

I wish I would have seen that post because I spent about 3 hours getting that spacer out, finally cut it into pieces. I installed the clutch without the tool and what way do you face the clutch?

TOLD YOU ITS A B!TCH

The problem with posting all this info to possibly HELP another dsm'r is the title of your thread. Whos going to type in "Do I Need This" in the SEARCH text to find out how to remove a A/T spacer and find info on the flexplate? Nobody. Thats why the title of your thread is CRUCIAL to a good and effective SEARCH feature on the forums...

NOTE Your question about which way the clutch should face I won't even begin to answer because your doing it incorrectly without the alignment tool. Use an alignment tool to install your clutch/pressure plate and then you'll need to know what direction the clutch is supposed to go.

 

[combatmedic]

I already installed it I just used something to sit in the crank hub while I put on the clutch and pp, worked fine I have read many places you don't need to use the tool.