*Help* How to correctly measure engine angles on sloped floor.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
*Help* How to correctly measure engine angles on sloped floor. Hey guys. I am getting to the point where to make my transmission crossmember for my mustang. I am very concerned about how to get the right measurements.
Right now the car is jacked up like the following:
Two jackstands on the rear lower torque box. I have shimmed the jackstands with steel plates to level the car side to side the best I could.
Then I have the two front jackstands on the front control arms and have the car leveled front to back. I used the front uni-body frame rail in the engine bay because the pinch welds are not straight all the way across.
I have a 5th jackstand under the pumpkin to take any stress off the back end. It is almost up to ride height.
Now I am worried about getting the 3 degree downward tilt right on the motor as well as getting the centerline of the motor and trans square in the car.
I was going to just put the jackstands on the suspension and measure the pinion angle and copy it on the transmission but I highly doubt the rear angles are correct anymore.
Can anyone correct me or give me more info on what steps I should take to ensure it is done properly.
Thank you, Steve
Right now the car is jacked up like the following:
Two jackstands on the rear lower torque box. I have shimmed the jackstands with steel plates to level the car side to side the best I could.
Then I have the two front jackstands on the front control arms and have the car leveled front to back. I used the front uni-body frame rail in the engine bay because the pinch welds are not straight all the way across.
I have a 5th jackstand under the pumpkin to take any stress off the back end. It is almost up to ride height.
Now I am worried about getting the 3 degree downward tilt right on the motor as well as getting the centerline of the motor and trans square in the car.
I was going to just put the jackstands on the suspension and measure the pinion angle and copy it on the transmission but I highly doubt the rear angles are correct anymore.
Can anyone correct me or give me more info on what steps I should take to ensure it is done properly.
Thank you, Steve
The angle of the engine and trans should be 3 to 5 degrees in relation to the car(frame). Then if the rear axle is just a normal ujoint top and bottom, then the angles should match. Getting it all right takes some careful measuring and drawing it out on paper makes it a whole lot easier.
When setting the tilt angles the slope of the floor doesn't matter. The car doesn't need to be level either. All that matters is the slope of the trans has to match the slope of the rear pinion.
If you are also worried about getting them both square in the car than you can build an alignment tool out of some cheap laser pointers. I have posted links before.
If you are also worried about getting them both square in the car than you can build an alignment tool out of some cheap laser pointers. I have posted links before.
grab a pen and paper.
http://www.classicchevy5speed.com/fi...roc_111606.pdf
http://prostreetcamaro.com/dshaft.shtml
http://www.classicchevy5speed.com/fi...roc_111606.pdf
http://prostreetcamaro.com/dshaft.shtml
grab a pen and paper.
http://www.classicchevy5speed.com/fi...roc_111606.pdf
http://prostreetcamaro.com/dshaft.shtml
http://www.classicchevy5speed.com/fi...roc_111606.pdf
http://prostreetcamaro.com/dshaft.shtml
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
Thanks guys, I'm pretty sure I feel confident about the angles now. That was some good reading. Still a little concerned about getting it square in the chassis though.
Here is the link to what pop N wood was talking about. http://www.downivlife.com/random/Dif...gnmentTool.pdf
Here is the link to what pop N wood was talking about. http://www.downivlife.com/random/Dif...gnmentTool.pdf
Last edited by Spoolinsteve; Mar 9, 2010 at 02:16 PM.
