Car is a 1989 Firebird V-6 2.8 with a 5 speed. I am replacing the clutch/flywheel, etc etc. I noticed that I didn't have a pilot bearing installed when I pulled the transmission out. Thought a bit of it, but well, people do strange things to cars. Installed new pilot bearing. Went to install the clutch... the clutch alignment tool doesn't fit. It is the OD of the tool is the ID of the crankshaft end hole... not the pilot bearing. I also noticed my clutch kit didn't come with a pilot bearing. Any ideas what is going on here?

Check the OD of the trans input shaft. That would be the telling tale.

I looked at a '92 FSM but it doesn't specify for V8 vs. V6, just shows a pilot bushing. That and it's a '92 not an '89 service manual.

RBob.

OD of the input shaft is the ID of the bearing. I slipped it on the transmission before I installed it in the crankshaft. Looking at the hole, it looked like a bearing had never been installed... so I am leaving the bearing out. It lasted 177k like that... I am guessing nothing ill will come of it.

You should have a pilot bushing installed. You might want to check and make sure that you have the correct part number clutch for your vehicle. Without the bushing, you will end up with a lot of chatter and possibly damage to the input shaft front bearing and seal. The one in my car was not replaced the first time I had the clutch done, that caused the bearing to wear, take out the front seal on the trans and dumped ATF all over my clutch. I then took it upon my self to do the clutch, replaced the bearing, seal, and bushing...no more chatter and no more ATF leak.

I suggest that you double check that you shouldn't have one, because if you don't, you'll be pissed that you have to go back in and do it all over again.

I don't know what else to check, honestly. The clutch kit I got matches on all websites I've looked at. The pilot bearing was obviously not there when I took it out, and didn't appear to of been there for awhile. When I did the V-8 clutch swap awhile ago, the kit came with a pilot bearing. This kit did not. It's too late for the "got back in there and do it all over again", the transmission is in the car and basically all hooked up. The problem I have is that it would be really hard to install the pilot bearing with the clutch in there and the clutch alignment took won't work with the pilot bearing in there.

Here is the kit I bought:

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...001&questions=[]

The Part number match on Schucks for a 83-92 Camaro/Firebird. However, it is odd that it says it comes with a pilot bearing. I wonder if somehow the wrong clutch kit got in the wrong box? It would suck to take it back apart, however that would explain the chatter I had...

Well F$%^ me... (please, my gf is on vacation.... no? ok... )

I went to another Autozone that had it in stock and checked it out. It was exactly what I expected. Pilot bearing included and a clutch alignment tool that was for a pilot bearing. So, transmission is back out and the clutch kit is back in the box. I'll exchange it tomorrow.