flathead engine/driveshaft angle

[johnnygringo]

is there an optimal angle for the engine/driveshaft to be set?

I have my flathead motor in and im at the point of making tranny mount spacers

48 flathead/39 tranny/48 rear

[johnnygringo]

bttt for the day shift

[Petejoe]

Here's a great article on the placement of the driveline.
driveline phasing (http://jniolon.clubfte.com/drivelinephasing/drivelinephasing.html)
Here's another I've saved.
engine and pinion angle (http://www.hotrodheaven.com/tech/chassis/engineangle_index.htm)

[Bruce Lancaster]

I have no numbers for this because my primitive motor pool consists of flatheads sitting on there original mounts and I have never had to worry about this. I believe pre-1949 engines are angled and late flatheads are level. Either level the carb pad if engine is together or just figure the angle from the manifold you are using. With a torque tube, I don't think any of the other angles are negotiable--your tube is gonna go from point A to point B, and that's that.

[Reggie]

In general, the you should be able to draw a straight line from the crankshaft centerline to the center of the rear end on torque tube cars. Unlike open driveline cars where there are ujoints on both ends, the closed driveline ford has only the one joint at the tranny. Now this doesn't have to be exact based on experience with a my lowered torque tube cars, but it will require more maintenence if there is any angle.

Personally, I would not set my pinion angle without my rearend mounted to get an idea of the torque tube angle.

Hope that helps!

[johnnygringo]

my thinkin exactly...point a to point b cuz of no u joints

however i can adjust the angle at the tranny mount with spacers and was wondering what was best

looks cocked back to me?
http://antonyl.brinkster.net/mahoney/DSC04059.JPG
http://antonyl.brinkster.net/mahoney/DSC04062.JPG
http://antonyl.brinkster.net/mahoney/DSC04058.JPG

[Bruce Lancaster]

You need to set the engine with carb flanges level.
Is that an F-1 crossmember there? Looks like a neat setup, and probably a touch cheaper than a deuce one...

[johnnygringo]

yep on both counts...cheapiesrus

many thanks and thats what i needed to hear

and my garage aint level...critical?

[Bruce Lancaster]

Hey, the world isn't level either...
An old kludge is to mark 4 tire contact points on your floor and make shims that make those 4 patches of turf level with each other. Paint the locations, number them, and number shims. Then anytime you need level, perhaps to adjust headlights, perhaps because you overfilled your coffee cup, you park the car there and insert shims for instant levelness.

[Digger_Dave]

If you don't have a long spirit level, one of the new "wizz bang" lazer levels makes quick work of setting the shims. They are getting real cheap. Paid $19.00 for mine; cheaper than a 4 foot spirit level.