Weeds, as you know, it's the carb mounting surface of the intake that is leveled. When that's leveled, the motor/trans center line will be approx. 4 deg down at rear(pinion angle.)
I leveled the carb with no clip, on level ground and it did not change enough to matter. I had leaf springs all around. As said, two guys can lift clip. If the clip weight brings angle back some, it's a small amount. Measure valve cover ridge vs carb mount to see angle that's
built in to your
stock motor.
If you are concerned further, Mock it up level at carb, have two guys stand on front of frame and see how much the angle changes....and adjust. Close enough for Government work. You are close to overthink, but so am I when I do it. You gotta set it up to some value or you will go crazy. I'm with you on that. Are you going to measure with a full gas tank? do you have a rear frame tank? is someone in the cab, is the radiator full, tires aired up the same? spare tire mounted? hood? are you making sure there is no train passing by?
Notice how nuts I get?....am? 283's are neat motors. First V8 with same cubes as HP.
