-1* pinion angle is a good start. where do i go from here?

[axeman]

i recently installed new lower and double adjustable upper control arms. on my lower control arms i have a poly bushing in the back and the heim joint in the front. same with the uppers. i set my pinion angle to -1* as a starting point. how do i know if i should adjust it? trial and error? if i feel like messing with it at the track, which way should i go? more negative or more positive? am i ultimatly looking for 0* under load? need some advice here.

 

[Rick 91GT]

With the poly bushings you will still get some deflection, I'd start at -3 degrees.

 

[axeman]

i wish you would have told me that before today. i'm going to cecil tomorrow. J/K riccki, maybe i'll play with it a little.

 

[tmoss]

Adjust it while watching your 60' times. -2° to -4° usually works best with more angle on the 5 speeds than the autos - they don't hit as hard.

 

[Ranchero5.0]

Ditto that. You'll know to play with it if the rear hops or you feel vibration from the U joints going down the track.

BTW, your email address didn't work for a reply so I'll paste it here.

I axed the Capri, literally chopped it up and tore the
cage out of it before turning it into scrap. I just
got pissed that it was sitting there not running and I
felt I was wasting my time working on it when I have a
'69 fastback 390 stang in the shed half restored.
Couldn't sell the capri so I parted it out. I'm going
to cut the RS decal and 351 turbocharged emblem out of
the fender and mount them on the wall of the garage.
Pretty sad really, but you only have so much time to
play.

Jamie

 

[axeman]

well, i did better at the track today but i didn't feel like messing with the pinion angle. stupid(lazy) me should have though because i wasn't quite happy with the 60's. my first run i had a 1.78 60'. i was pretty darn happy because i figured it would just get better. wrong. it just got worse as the day went on. i didn't feel any wheel hops, but i did feel a little vibration once i hit 1/8 until i slowed down then.

jamie,
i never would have thought you would chop that car up like that. sorry to hear about that. i never had the plessure of seeing the '69. will you be racing that too?