Getting the angle of the dangle

[The WidowMaker]

RELATIVE TO THE CHASSIS BEING LEVEL - Suspension loaded. These settings we're talking about are pinion angle relative to the Engine. So if you start with a level chassis - set the motor down relative to that - and the pinion angle relative to the setting of the motor.

all im saying is where do you measure? i could pick 10 different spots on the frame, and each would come up different. obviously i pick the same spot every time for my own sanity, but when numbers are thrown around on the internet its never given what the heck is being measured and compared

I also agree with Frank -- motor down 4* and pinion down 1/2* in these 4 link rear ends... they don't crawl much. My Jim Meyer chassis - and the Art Morrison Chassis I'm working on right now - set the motor down 3*

which way is the pinion when you say 1/2* down? 1/2* to the chassis or the 4* of the motor? if youre talking about a 4* tailshaft and a 3.5* pinion, it usually works. in my situation, the pinion is sitting higher than the tailshaft, therefore the common \ _ \ setup yielded working angles that were approaching 4*. will it cause an isssue? probably not. but, when starting with a clean slate its best to get them right at 1* but not under. the less common \ _ / is what i ended up going with. i still have working angles that cancel each other in order to minimize harmonics, and i still left .5* for pinion wrap.

How critical is the centerline?

you want your working angles as close to 1* as possible (without going under since they will stop rotating as greg stated), and you want both angles to be within .5* of each other.

if you set up your tailshaft and pinion in a straight line and have 0* working angles in plan view, youre needles will still rotate since you have enough of an angle in side view. but if your wa's are huge in plan view, it doesnt matter how much work youve done to keep them minimized in side view, you might end up with a high speed vibration.

i know im over thinking the crap out of this, but i didnt want to end up being one of those "high speed vibration, need help" threads once this thing is finally on the road. what frank and greg said will usually work, but i know youve got yourself a pretty low ride and its worth really checking into the working angles.

Tim