Auto to five speed questions

[78 280zcar]

I am still in the process of my auto to 5 speed swap and am kinda stuck. I bought a new clutch kit and it has a little round thing I think is a pilot bushing does it go in the end of the crankshaft? On the end of the crankshaft there is a cap that goes over the back of it I had to pull to change the rear main seal do I leave that on for the swap or do I take it off. Also there is a spacer that was behind the flexplate for the automatic I assume that I dont need to install that on when putting the flywheel on right. Sorry about all the questions, but I am new to this. Shane

[LanceM]

I bought a new clutch kit and it has a little round thing I think is a pilot bushing does it go in the end of the crankshaft?

Yes

Don't know about the cap you speak of but the end of the crank should be exposed so that the input shaft of the tranny can enter into the pilot bearing.

I would say no spacer behind flywheel.

[78 280zcar]

The bushing\bearing that goes into the crankshaft, is it suppose to be just a round thing or is it suppose to be a bearing because there is no bearings in it and how far in the crankshaft does it go? What about the plate that is a press fit on the end of the crankshaft it is about a 1/8" of an inch thick and portrudes over the bolt holes, does that stay on or no. Thanks for the help. Shane

[sblake01]

Leave the 'cap' off. It's also a spacer for the flexplate. You won't need either one on a flywheel. As for the bearing (it's actually a pilot bushing) and it goes all the way in. It basically keeps the input shaft of the manual trans centered.

[78 280zcar]

Thanks. Just another question, when putting the clutch and pressure plate on the flywheel, is there a certain way the pressure plate aligns with the flywheel, everything is brand new, so I have no idea. Another really stupid question, :stupid: . What type of fluid do I use for the manual tranny :nervous: . Thanks Shane

When putting the oil pump on, does the links on the timing chain have to be lined up or can I just put it on with the #1 piston at top dead center and the #1 exhaust\intake valves closed. Thanks again, Shane

[sblake01]

It should line up with the dowels on the flywheel. Make sure you use an alignment tool for the clutch disc and that the disc is facing the proper direction. They usually say 'flywheel side' on them. It's not 'fluid' in a manual it's gear lube. 4.25 pints of 90-140 wt (depending on your local climate) with a API GL-4 rating.

As for your second question, what is crucial there is how it lines up with the distributor. Look for Bambikiller240's thread on installing a Petronix ignition. It goes into some detail about properly lining up the oil pump.

[78 280zcar]

Awesome thanks. What about the oil pump?

[sblake01]

Awesome thanks. What about the oil pump?

We must be typing at the same time! I edited my previous post with some info on the oil pump.

[78 280zcar]

Alright thanks I will look into it. Shane

[kenz240z]

You may also want to check the relationship between the starter and the flywheel to make sure you don't have any problems with the starter drive gear engaging the teeth on the flywheel. If the flywheel is closer to the starter than the flex plate was, the drive gear could grind on the flex plate teeth, and may have trouble engaging the flywheel. Or, it may start the car fine, but get locked up and fail to disengage the flywheel.

Does anyone know if there is there a difference between starters on cars with a manual transmission and cars with the auto? I seem to recall that MSA lists different starters for each. If there is a difference between starters, and you keep the one you have, you may need to install a shim between the starter and the transmission bellhousing. You can make a shim from another engine backing plate, if you have one.

Of course, it could be all backwards from what I've just mentioned. The flywheel could be further away from the starter... :paranoid:

[78 280zcar]

Kenz, I will look into that when I get the flywheel on.

Does anyone know how to prime the oil system on these cars, on my nova all I had to do was turn the distributor drive gear inside the distributor mount.

Thanks for all the help guys it is greatly appreciated. Shane

[montoya_fan01]

Fill the oil pump with oil before you install it, otherwise you will NEVER get oil pressure to build up when you start to spin the engine (with the coil disconnected) to prime the engine oil galleys/bearings, etc.