Driveline angle
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 372
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From: So. WIS
Driveline angle Morning all, was working on the S-10 swap last night and measured the tailshaft angle on the 4L60E I'm using on the swap. Came out to a 6* down angle. This is with no shimming at the mount.
I put a floor jack under the trans and raised the tailshaft until I had about 3.5* downward angle. This left me with a gap of between .50 and .75 inches (eyeball guesstimation).
Does this seem right? I found a "Shim Kit" from JTR (Jags that run) that would address a .75 (3/4 inch) down angle. Kit has the shims to align the trans, center bearing and pinion angle ($80). I hate to spend the money as I can make the trans & center bearing plates cheap enough.
Any input would be great.
Jim
I put a floor jack under the trans and raised the tailshaft until I had about 3.5* downward angle. This left me with a gap of between .50 and .75 inches (eyeball guesstimation).
Does this seem right? I found a "Shim Kit" from JTR (Jags that run) that would address a .75 (3/4 inch) down angle. Kit has the shims to align the trans, center bearing and pinion angle ($80). I hate to spend the money as I can make the trans & center bearing plates cheap enough.
Any input would be great.
Jim
Jim,
Presumably your measurements are in relationship to earth and not to the chassis. If that is the case, the measurement you posted is mostly meaningless. In order to check for proper driveline angles you need the angle of the engine/transmission, the angle of the driveshaft and the angle of the pinion gear.
Andrew
Presumably your measurements are in relationship to earth and not to the chassis. If that is the case, the measurement you posted is mostly meaningless. In order to check for proper driveline angles you need the angle of the engine/transmission, the angle of the driveshaft and the angle of the pinion gear.
Andrew
Im not sure if this is right, but the fab guy and I measured in relationship to the face of the crank pulley.
So my ls2/4l80e/ford 9" will have 3* down on trans, and 3* up on rear. Hope that makes sense. Hope even more its correct,lol. Did lots of research n thats what we came up with using my pro touring front clip
So my ls2/4l80e/ford 9" will have 3* down on trans, and 3* up on rear. Hope that makes sense. Hope even more its correct,lol. Did lots of research n thats what we came up with using my pro touring front clip
Im not sure if this is right, but the fab guy and I measured in relationship to the face of the crank pulley.
So my ls2/4l80e/ford 9" will have 3* down on trans, and 3* up on rear. Hope that makes sense. Hope even more its correct,lol. Did lots of research n thats what we came up with using my pro touring front clip
So my ls2/4l80e/ford 9" will have 3* down on trans, and 3* up on rear. Hope that makes sense. Hope even more its correct,lol. Did lots of research n thats what we came up with using my pro touring front clip
What matters are the front and rear operating angles.
See angles A and B in the above diagram.
Andrew
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It makes sense, but you won't know what your U-joint working angles are until you include the measured angle of your installed driveshaft into the equation. You can have matching trans output shaft and pinion angles and still have excessive U-joint working angles.
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drive shaft angles 
Other than confusing yolk (as in an egg) with yoke (as in u-joints) and a few other minor idiosyncrasies, that document is accurate and will help guide you down the proper path.
That document says to use the u-joint caps to take the measurements, which was helpful. I'm swapping an El Camino and am planning on building/modifying the crossmember myself, so I've been thinking about how to do this.
Would it work to measure the angle between pinion yoke cap and floor, and then set the engine so the angle between face of the crankshaft pulley and floor (plus 90) is the same? That would get me close enough to have a driveshaft made, and then I could confirm/adjust the height of the output shaft using the crossmember.
Or am I making this too hard?
Would it work to measure the angle between pinion yoke cap and floor, and then set the engine so the angle between face of the crankshaft pulley and floor (plus 90) is the same? That would get me close enough to have a driveshaft made, and then I could confirm/adjust the height of the output shaft using the crossmember.
Or am I making this too hard?
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 372
Likes: 8
From: So. WIS
I would also think that the vehicle in question needs to be on its wheels, not jack stands, to get any measurements. Mine with the truck level on jack stands was showing 1-3* depending on where I measured. But that was not sitting on the floor on its wheels (suspension loaded).
Planning to get the measurements later this week when the truck is finally of jack stands.
Planning to get the measurements later this week when the truck is finally of jack stands.
I prefer to use stands I made that go under the wheels so the entire vehicle is supported at ride height but around one foot higher but normal jack stands work fine if placed properly as Andrew mentioned.