Custom driveline set up advice needed (non-BMW)

[willworkfore30s]

In addition to my e30 I am building a 1964 f100 pickup for my step dad. Its going to have a completely non-factory drive line. I have never set up a driveline completely from scratch before so I have a few questions and was hoping some of you more experienced mechanics might be able to help me out.

So my drivetrain starts with my carbed 331 Small block ford and goes to a t5 trans and then ends with an 8.8 3.73 LSD from a 99 explorer.

So things I need to get set up correctly are the angle of the motor/trans and the pinion angle on the rear end.

From doing some homework I have read that carbed motors need to be tilted downward going toward the back about 3* for the carb to function optimally. From what I learned in engineering school, my pinion angle and trans angle need to be between 1* and 3* off of parallel to each other.

Things I am unsure of is whether or not it matters if my pinion angle is off more than 3* from level.

The stock spring pads on the axle were at the perfect width to simply bolt up to the stock '64 f100 leaf springs so I just put it in and measured the pinion angle. It is around 7* or 8*.

I have not yet finished my motor mounts but put the t5 on the stock transmission mount from the factory drive train and set the motor up with 3* slope back. I measured the angle on the output shaft of the trans and it came out to be right around 6*

So, my question is, will it work like I have it set up? Obviously my goals are to cancel out as much driveline vibration as possible and have the motor run properly.


Cliff notes:

Building 1964 f100 with custom drive line

Carbed motor is set up with 3* downward angle

Trans out put shaft is down 6*

Pinion angle is down 7* or 8*

Is this set up sound?

One more question:

The transmission mount has the trans offset about 2 inches off center toward the passenger side of the truck. The rear end's drive shaft mounting flange is about 3-4 inches off center in the same direction.

My thoughts were that I need to mount my motor off center to match the trans. I feel like I have seen motors offset like this before. The trans tunnel is definitely offset.

Does this sound reasonable?

I am not an inexperienced mechanic, but this is the first time I have done something this custom, outside of a shop with more experienced professionals to make sure I am getting things set up like they are supposed to

[LJ851]

Great project!

My understanding is you want equal and opposing u joint angles.

For example 5 degrees down at trans, 5 degree up at diff.

Secondary angles (left to right) can cause vibration but not always it seems.

[willworkfore30s]

Great project!

My understanding is you want equal and opposing u joint angles.

For example 5 degrees down at trans, 5 degree up at diff.

Secondary angles (left to right) can cause vibration but not always it seems.

Thanks man, and I may have been taught wrong but I believe I was told that perfectly parallel angles can cause issues just like extreme angles. Thats why I was thinking between 1* and 3* of difference between the U-joint angles

[jlevie]

On the relatively safe assumption that the factory engineers knew what they were doing I'd match the original engine angle and vertical position of the transmission output shaft.

[willworkfore30s]

I've had two of these trucks now. Neither of them had the original engines or mounts. I am using what I believe to be and original transmission mounts.