Classic/Antique Car Repair: pilot bearing install withengine in car, 56 chevy 210, car ramps

Question
I recently locked up a muncie 4 speed in my 56 chevy 210, i was able to pick up a used trans  and bellhousing, the old bellhousing was cracked and the input shaft brg cover was also cracked, the pilot brg came out with the input shaft, im unsure why it cracked i baby the car, I have reistalled the bellhousing which is the cast iron model that you can put the flywheel on after its in, it also has the ears for the mounts on it, I am doing this on my back and the car is on car ramps, I started to install the pilot bearing with hammer and socket and sort of have it started but, am unsure if hammering the heck out it is the best way please advise or is their a better tool that i could easily get? the engine in the car is a 350 chevy early 70"s

thanks
wes

Answer
 Wes ;
     Hi-  I would not bang on the bearing it could get bent  out of shape. I would take it out and try to sand it with some med. metal paper and look in the crankshaft where the berg. goes and make shure there are no burs or dirt etc.  also check to see that it fits the tranny spline . it should not be that hard to go in so if you have to sand it down a bit  - do so. and when you go to put it in-use some greese on it. if you have a old spline try to use that to put it in with .