The old engine coming out of the car had a 5 speed attached (duh!). The new engine had an automatic.

Old:



New:


The auto crankshaft has a spacer in the end of it. Do I need some kind of puller to get it out? Couldn't do anything with it by hand, and did't want to pry it.

Does the auto crankshaft has a pilot bearing as well as the spacer?

Also, if you look directly under the crankshaft output on the new engine, you see that hole. That's not there on the old engine. However, the thing covering that hole on the old engine feels like plastic. What's the point of the hole, and can I move the "cover" from the old engine to the new?

While I have the transmission out of the car, is there any reason not to crack it open, inspect it, and clean it out really well? Brake cleaner ok for the transmission internals?

 

The spacer and pilot bearing need to both need to be pulled. If i remember correctly, when doing the swap, we just pried the spacer off, didn't use a puller, and used a bearing puller to pull out the pilot bearing.

 

the auto crankshaft spacer can be pulled out with a pilot bearing puller and slide hammer(autozone rents these for free). once you remove the spacer, you need to install a new pilot bearing in the same location as on the old engine. there's not going to be a pilot bearing on the new engine since it was mated to an auto.

the "hole" you are referring to is the access plate for the flywheel. you can remove the plate from the old engine and install on the new engine. it's held on by 2 10mm bolts.

 

Thank you.