Bell Never Aligned
I wondered as well, assumed they did.
The factory did not check crank centerline to the transmission pilot diameter and they used normal round dowel pins.
How could they get by with that?
1) the factory had the advantage of all new parts, virgin dowel pin holes. The stack up at tolerance extremes should still function. Most vehicle assembly plants back in the day, and still today have an audit program where they pull a final assembly and then subject it to a full disassembly and inspection. They use that to keep tabs on items like pilot bore alignment, crankshaft end play, piston protrusion/recession, valve guide clearance. All those items that are the result of the stack up of tolerances, but are not verified on every engine.
2) and if the pilot shaft alignment was off, remember most new car warranties back in the 60’s and 70’s was two years and 24000 miles. Mopar went a bit further with their 5/50. The car would be out of warranty before anything catastrophic happened.
3) and if it did, that is why there is a checking procedure in the FSM.
