Correct engine angle?

[70 chevelle]

I'm installing a ls engine in a chevelle It should be on a 2-4 degree angle right? any help greatly appreciated

[68protouring454]

yes 2-4 is close, measure tranny tailshaft get it to 3-4 and call it good

[gt1guy]

First thing you need to do is check your pinion angle. Then set the tailshaft angle the same. Driveline angles being wrong can screw up a car very badly. The basic idea is to have the front and rear true u-joint angle be equal and small. If your pinion angle is 2deg up, you want the tailshaft at 2deg down.

Hope this helps.

Kevin

[Fluid Power]

Here is a simple way if you are running a carb. Bolt on the intake manifold and put a level on the intake where the carb mounts. When the bubble is level, the engine is at the proper angle. 2-4 deg. is correct.

Darren

[Blown353]

The only way to make totally sure is to install the rear end & drive shaft and set the rear end to your desired ride height, then measure the operating angles for the driveshaft & u-joints.

If you're going to run your car low you might have to have the tranny up higher than you'd expect to minimize the u-joint working angles; that's the problem with my Chevelle and how low I have it. I actually need to sawzall off the entire driveshaft tunnel and raise it so I can raise the tailshaft & driveshaft about another 1.5" to minimize the u-joint working angles. Right now I can't because I'm nearly out of room between the driveshaft and the floorpan. I would not have any issues with the working angles if my car was about 2" higher in the rear... but I don't want it to be.

This is something you'd never be able to tell unless you had everything installed & mocked up.

However, getting the engine set to be about 2 degrees down (in relationship to the frame) should get you pretty close, just make sure you have adjustment room either way. The lower your car the greater the chance you're going to have floorpan clearance issues as you'll have to raise the tailshaft to minimize the u-joint working angles.

[race-rodz]

more important than the driveshaft angle, the reason for the engine angle is for air to escape from the coolant passages. by raising the front of the motor, the air pockets will travel to the highest point...which should be the rad cap. oil drainback is another reason. make sure the installed angle is set with the vehicle AT ride height. any "rake" will change the angle. 2-5* is right in the ballpark.

[68protouring454]

take a carb intake and make carb flange level and measure plenum angle and thats that, carb has to be level

[70 chevelle]

thanks for the help guys