I am putting a 302 with a T-5 transmission into my 54 F-100 and I have a couple of questions for those that have been through a similar project. This is my first time to attempt this kind of project, so the learning curve is pretty much straight up. Any and all help will be very much appreciated.

1. Is it ok to paint the engine block-plate on a manual transmission set-up or should this plate be left unpainted?

2. What is the best way to determine and set the angle of the engine/manual transmission/output shaft and driveshaft in relation to the rear universal connection.

Thanks for your comments.......I think.......
Bob

 

It should be no problem if you want to paint the block plate; just don't make it too thick.

The transmission output shaft angle should be the same as the pinion angle, no matter what the application. Otherwise, you will get driveshaft vibrations from the different rotational momentums in the U joints on each end.

 

XTL4,
I have read that it should be the same angle and I have read it should be 2 to 4 degrees different. Probably would be best if they were very close.
I will try to get them t o match. My question is how do you measure the pinion angle and how do you measure to get the proper angle of the output shaft? Would the output shaft be parallel with the lower intake manifold? That seems like a good place to put a level.

 

I think the drag racers or heavy trucks that put a lot of power out set it at 2-4 degrees splayed so that under high torque, they twist the axle so that the pinion lines up with the output shaft. But yes, as close as you can make it if not exactly equal.

Since it's difficult to directly measure the actual angles of the output shaft and pinion, most people put their angle finders on the end faces of each, which gives the angles plus (or minus) 90 degrees. Of course, this assumes that each shaft is in good shape, and their end faces are actually perpendicular to the shaft axes. You can check this by putting your angle finder against the face, take a measurement, rotate the shaft 90 degrees, and take another measurement, repeat. If all the measurements you get are the same, you've gotten the angle. Otherwise, you will have to measure the run-out and account for that in the angle measurement.