the other interesting thing is my transmission yoke and front driveshaft are on the exact same plane/angle of 95*

 

anyone else have any insight? where the hell is NakedAV when you need him.

Before I tear my **** apart I want to make sure I have my ducks in a row and understand what I'm dealing with.

 

How is that? You just posted two different readings.
You have a 5* pinion angle. Actually yours should be -5* like you stated above.
Looks like GM gave you too much of a negative pinion angle.
At least that's what it seems after reading my link.
Your HP is low anyways! It needs to like a 0* for that weak engine.
It stated that (assuming this is the kind of power you will be making) when producing 500-650HP, you should only have 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 * of pinion angle.
I'm assuming there talking negative pinion. Meaning nose of diff dipping more towards the ground.
What do you think?

Jim

 

I understand it a little differently, mainly that its the relationship between the differential angle and driveshaft angle thats critical(i.e. pinion angle). Are you saying in addition to being between 3.5* and 4.5* the diff should be pointed down?

I will unload my Caltracs and see if that changes anything, probably will.

 

Ahhhhh, I was thinking about that, just forgot to ask if you had them loaded or not. When you load them, it will be wanting to force the diff nose downward to an extent.
I bet your diff angles change after doing so.
Yes, your diff should be pointing downward. When you accelerate, the diff will be wanting to twist upwards. You really don't want it to go much past 0* if any at all under acceleration.
That's what I got out of my link that I posted above.

Jim

 

That's why the Caltracs work. They take the twisting force of the diff to raise up the front and plant the trear tires into the ground!
Just felt like saying that!

Jim

 

mine are coming off, tired of all the freakin noise, going to a ladder bar setup similar to what the Lightning guys use

 

Place a rubber hose over the pin that rests on top of the leaf springs. The noise goes away so I hear.
The Caltrac Pics post has it in there about eliminating the noise.
Just thought I let you know before you ditched them.
What exactly are the Lightning guys using?
Any pics of it? Sounds like totally fabbed components.

Jim

 

for my setup the rubber tube would help but wouldn't eliminate the squeeking I get from the plates rubbing against the side of the leaf springs

 

Looks like I will be placing some marine grease there before assembly. I wonder if aerosol lithum grease will get in there with them installed?
Too bad a grease sert couldn't be added at the eye.
Sounds like a possible problem.

Jim