[Tonythefish]

I know this topic has been discussed to the end but it is unclear to me at the stage I am at ...

I have just got done installing a crossmember with cross bracing in the car . I am at the point of setting the trans angel at 3 deg down and rear 3 deg up . I am doing this with no motor . Should I compensate an extra deg on the trans side only like 4deg or 5 deg and when the weight of the motor goes in it should bing it back close to 3 deg .. FYI I am using a plastic mock motor 30 lbs and a th350 case ~ 20 lbs ..

[powerrodsmike]

It depends on which type of suspension you are running. A 4 bar won't care about the weight, it's angle remains fairly consistant throughout it's range of motion.

A split wishbone or ladder bar needs to have the angle set up at ride height.
If you are running coilovers you can set up the ride height that you like and adjust the spring rate and shock position, ( if you have a multi position bracket on your rear end), to get the ride height set once the weight is on the car.

If you are running a buggy spring then you should really mock up the weight.

I am setting up a 32 frame with leaf springs right now for a guy, he wants me to set up the pinion angle without having the body on the frame. I may try to mock up a suitable dead weight on the frame to get things close, then when he gets the car done, if he has to, he can adjust the angle later with shims. It should not wind up being off more than a degree or 2.

Also, the pinion preload is dependant on the suspension type.

Later, mikey

[Tonythefish]

Well , The car had a home made bars 2 on each side of frame to a bracket on the rear . I planed to to replace with a new set up from speedway
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/3400...uspension.html

What do you think ?

[powerrodsmike]

That is a 4 bar

Set it up so the pinion is aligned with the trans, (maybe 1/2 degree nosed down) with the bars sitting about level with the ground when the wheels and tires you will use are mounted.

That'll get you about where you want to be, you can fine tune it when the car is together.

Later, mikey

[Tonythefish]

Great ,, I was also wanting to know if I should have a offset on the trans side since I have no motor in the car ? Should I get 5 - 80lbs bags of sand to put on front frame and set trans 3 deg down or add no weight and set trans ~ 4 deg down and when the weight is in the car should bring it back to 3 deg ??

[powerrodsmike]

It should not matter with a parallel 4 bar. You are setting the shaft angles in relation to each other. The attitude, rake or angle of the frame won't matter so much if you are just setting the pinion angle to the trans output shaft.

Now if you are setting up the attitude of the motor, it should be set up so the carburator mounting flange on the manifold is within 1* of level when the frame is at front and rear ride height. This corresponds to about 4* nose up (in relation to the ground) when measured at the crankshaft. I set most roadsters up with a 2 degree frame rake. ( that looks good to me), you may like them level or raked a bunch.
Later, mikey

[Tonythefish]

So I am looking into buying those 4 bar set up but I see they are typically used with coil over set ups .. I planed on using the original transverse leaf set up less 4 springs . Is this set up OK ? and will I be using just regular shocks ?

[powerrodsmike]

I think it will work fine.

Mikey