Volvo 275 Intermediate Shaft Bearings?

[rucaradio]

As we speak my AQ131D is hanging from a gantry about to be reinstalled in my boat. When I pulled the motor, I noticed the pilot (?) bearing (the bearing that goes inside the race on the crankshaft and holds the tip of the intermediate shaft) had disintegrated. I got a new bearing and snap ring. The bearing popped right into the crankshaft. I then installed the flywheel and vibration dampner. Now I can't get the end of the intermediate shaft to seat into the inner race of the bearing.

Manual recommends "special tool" which is nothing more than a slide hammer. Anyone know any other options I might have? I currently have the intermediate shaft in the freezer hoping that it'll contract enough that I can get it popped in.