At the tail end of the crankshaft on an L-series engine, there is a hole along the centerline into which fits the tip of the transmission input shaft. In the OE engine, this input shaft rotates inside a (bronze?) bushing (which is many times driven out of crankshaft using the "bread/hammer technique."

Clearly, the bushing can be replaced like-for-like with a new bushing, Nissan part number 32202-30000. ZCar Depot sells this part under its part number 200-557. Motorsport auto also sells this part.

However, ZCar Depot (MSA as well) also offers a roller bearing (its part number 200-753) that can be swapped in for the pilot bushing. The claim is that this is a Nissan Competition part but I cannot find any reference to it in my informational resources. MSA only recommends this roller bearing for competition cars and NOT for street machines.

Does anyone know the Nissan part number or have specifications for it as I suspect it's a common part found through Grainger or a similar vendor?

Edited June 8Jun 8 by Seppi72
Added details

I'm sure this would be available from generic sources and I'll measure an original pilot when I get a chance.

Are you thinking you want to use that roller option? If so, I'd advise against it. Might just be my conservative nature, but I see more downside than up.

In the meantime, I do have this from sometime past:

I had, at first, thought that I would go that route but the narrative on the MSA webpage about the roller bearing dissuaded me from doing so.

I have a 2003 F150 truck that uses a pilot bearing. I think that pilot bearings are more common today than bushings. (trivia - a bushing is actually a type of bearing). But the Ford part seems much more robust than the thin Nissan part. Might be a factor.

I collected some stuff from the internet. Not sure how a person might decide which to use.

#9, #9, #9 ... https://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsun/Z-1969-1978/engine-280z/piston-crankshaft/9

Weird that your part numbers don't match the MSA site. I tried to search them and nothing came up. Are they old images? I had to use words.

https://www.thezstore.com/product/5789/roller-clutch-pilot-bearing-70-20-240z-260z-280z-280zx-300zx-350z-370z-23-25-nissan-z-w-manual-trans

https://www.thezstore.com/product/1069/clutch-pilot-bushing-manual-transmission-70-96-240z-260z-280z-280zx-300zx-z31-z32-03-20-350z-370z-23-25-nissan-z

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/precision/engines---transmissions/transmission---transaxle/clutch-parts/clutch-pilot-bearing-bushing/2b39333b9fdb/precision-clutch-release-bearing/ope0/fc68329/v/a/5307/automotive-truck-2003-ford-f-150

The illustrations I used are from the Zcar Depot website so the part numbers won't match those that MSA uses. I don't understand why they both don't just use the Nissan part numbers when that's what you'll see on the package when you get the item in question.

Aside from all that, I was planning to apply lithium grease to the bronze bushing just before mating the tranny to the engine. Is that the right material choice?

Because they know you can order it from your local dealer and save you time researching the OE p/n. May or may not still be available from Nissan.

It is, and I did order the part from my nearby Nissan dealer even though it was more expensive. Saving the ridiculous freight charges AND my local club getting a 10% parts discount at Columbus-area Nissan dealers made that the best option. And, it will be here tomorrow morning from the Chicago warehouse.

I mean, I support and have spent thousands at both MSA and ZCar Depot as well as with other specialist suppliers like Skillard, Pierce Manifolds and California Datsun, but I can't justify paying an $8-12 freight charge on a $10 part.

If I knew the dimensions, I could search for it at Grainger and pick it up from the Columbus retail store. Same thing if I order stuff from JEGS as it has a Columbus retail store. Maybe not the sharpest knife in the drawer but I am blessed in that geographical regard at least.

7 hours ago, Seppi72 said:

Aside from all that, I was planning to apply lithium grease to the bronze bushing just before mating the tranny to the engine. Is that the right material choice?

The FSM says mil-prf-10924 grease, which a quick look on the web indicates it's a Lithium complex base grease. It should apparently comply with the following:

"a. Work a sample of the test grease on a motorized grease worker for 100,000 double strokes (approximately 28 hours) in accordance with the procedure described in ASTM D217 for prolonged worked penetration.

b. Immediately after the grease has been subjected to 100,000 double strokes, bring the grease worker and the sample to 25 ±0.5C in accordance with the procedure described in ASTM D217 for prolonged worked penetration."

So whatever you use, make sure it can handle enough strokes and produces appropriate penetration.

Reference : https://chemsol.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MIL-PRF-10924.pdf

Ah, yes, ASTM testing. Went through a LOT of those when I worked for some automotive supplier companies. There's an entire industry that just builds the test rigs.

Seems like I was always accused of giving my bosses double (medical) strokes. Fun times...