Pilot Bearing in the Flywheel?

[Ian]

Hello everybody. I got a junkyard engine that I'm trying to get running with minimal investment. Clutch was destroyed and I had to grind the rivets off and take if off piece by piece. After cleaning the flywheel, I was about ready to put another clutch on but then I noticed no pilot bearing! I took the flywheel off and there is a partial remnant in the flywheel, but it looked like the outer race of the original bearing had seized into the end of the crankshaft, possibly fusion welded. I have been grinding it with burrs and stones and all manner of things, and I'm not very happy with it. The outside of the crank hole is bigger than the inside of the hole, and the pilot bearing still won't go in all the way. I could keep grinding and then red or green loctite the bearing in the now loose hole. Ofcourse, there's no way I would be certain that the bearing is actually centered in the crank.

My other thought is to have someone open up the flywheel in the middle and put the pilot bearing in the flywheel. I have seen the diesel pilot bearing mod, so it does appear that the flywheel can be machined in the middle to fit a bearing.

Will this repair work for awhile until I can find a replacement crankshaft/engine? Please let me know. Thanks!!
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