Hey guys, 1st time poster here. I'm in the process of swapping an AR5 transmission into a 2000 2wd Silverado that originally had an NV3500, and I had some questions regarding driveline angle before I fab up a transmission crossmember. Forgive me for this being long winded, but I want to avoid costly mistakes
This truck utilizes a 2 piece driveshaft.
It is my understanding that we want between .5° and 3° of total operating angle.
With the truck sitting on the ground and suspension under load, I zeroed my angle finder relative to the rear pinion flange. With the gauge zeroed I attempted to match the engine/trans combo to 0° by jacking the combo up or down from under the transmission.
By the time I reach ~2.5°, the mechanical fan is hitting the bottom of the shroud, and the trans is sitting way up high in the tunnel. As I try to match the pinion angle I am effectively dropping the front of the engine as it pivots at the motor mounts. This truck is stock ride height so my concern is that the engine/trans angle surely did not match the pinion angle from the factory as I never had any issues with the fan contacting the shroud.
Am I safe to assume that tilting the engine/trans downward at a greater angle that I will be okay as long as I do not exceed 3° difference relative to the pinion flange?
Basically my engine/trans/front driveshaft would all be angled downward roughly ~4.5° relative to the ground, and the pinion flange would be facing upward only ~2° relative to the ground.
Additionally, does the front driveshaft angle need to be between 0°-½° of the transmission output shaft? I am visualizing the front driveshaft as essentially nothing other than a straight extension of the transmission output shaft. The ½° being only for proper ujoint lubrication.
