i am in the process of swapping a nv3350 into my yj to replace my worn out ax-15 but the input shaft on the nv3350 is bigger than the one on the ax-15 so i thought that basically all i needed was a pilot bearing with a larger INNER DIAMETER. what i figured i would do is get a pilot bearing that fits the year my nv3350 came out of (2001) but no dice. this bearing is the right INNER DIAMETER but the OUTTER DIAMETER is larger as well so it wont fit inside the flywheel like it is supposed to. the only thing i know to do now is bore out the fitting where the bearing is supposed to go, which i don't want to do, or i can use the lathe and some bronze to make a bushing that will fit instead of the needle bearing. i know lots of old vehicles used bronze pilot bushings but would this be ok on the 4.0L yj? the bronze i would be using would be impregnated with oil so it would be lubricated and all. is this a good idea? what to do? what to do?

I would be trying to get a bronze bushing. Most likely the proper inside diameter and turn down to the proper depth &outside diameter. I used both bronze &bearings in my 86 1 ton 6.2 chevy diesel at different times & the bronze lasted till i sold the truck(100,000 miles worth). See if you can get a look at a catalog of bushings for the sizes and go from there. Depending how good you are w/a lathe you making one could work although i'm not sure of the properties of the bronze.

Oil impregnated bronze works fine as a pilot bushing used for many years before pilot bearings, and is easy to get machined to the proper size you need.

Take a look here http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181361 it's a thread on 2.5L AX15 swap,but there is some NV3550 and pilot bushing info in the 10+ pages. Post 54 has some pilot bushing dimensions that might help?

Lots of good tranny swap info here too: http://www.jeeps-offroad.com/tech-articles/4740-engine-swap-bellhousings.html

Hey Ian,

dont do anything, PM me your address and I will send you the conversion pilot bushing that I bought from Advanced adapters, when I installed that tranny, I should have given it to you when you came and picked up the tranny

I am pretty sure it is the same bushing for your 4.0 motor as it was from my 304

It is a big pilot bushing that sits in the outside of the crankshaft

the part number is 716164

call Advance adapters to confirm this