Posted by dj in WA [174.240.6.199] on Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 03:00:39 :
Got a burning question. Sorry - long explanation:
Slow progress on the '77 crewcab - frame is cleaned up, axles are on (with the 4 in suspension lift) and the engine is bolted to the front mounts and to a nv4500 with a AA bell housing. The married 205 is installed - engine and drivetrain are all from the '89 donor. PO put in the NV4500 to replace a getrag. When I got the donor, the engine was higher up front than in the back, and the nv4500 was bolted to the stock x-member with a 3 in. square-tubing spacer.
I'm using the '77 frame and installing the '89 x-member a little back from the stock position to line up with the transmission mount.
If I level the engine, the transmission-mount interface is 7.25 in. above the mounting plate on the x-member. So accounting for the 1.25 in. difference in frame material (cc is 7.25 in, '89 was 6 in), I'm raising the t-case output yoke 3.25 in. from what it was in the '89 - if i want the engine to sit level. Seems like the engine should be level - ie, the top of the valve covers parallel with the straight run of the frame (?).
I'm putting in a 3-in body lift and have to rework rusted floors anyway, so cab interference shouldn't be a problem. If I get rid of the '77 carrier bearing (and modify the x- member that it bolted to) and use a straight rear driveline, the height difference between t-case and rear axle yokes is 16 in, with 81 in. between yokes.
Is that too steep? Should I split the difference and lower the back of the engine/trans/t-case a few inches, or would it cause u-joint wear if the yokes aren't parallel?
Thanks in advance for comments and suggestions.
Follow Ups: