Joe,
You're right, truck drivelines are a "wierd science" all unto themselves. I'm just apprenticing right now and haven't started the "school" part of it yet, so I don't have any real specifics I can share with y'all yet
.
One thing to think about is the driveline "wrap" or "movement" as mentioned above...You should see how the rear diffs in an FD120 tractor twist around starting from a stop with no trailer on!
Just imagine how much
more they'll move when the truck is loaded!
I believe (from my admittedly limited experience) that the big trucks are designed to have this much driveline movement to help reduce breakage of u-joints and other such "hard parts." The hanger bearings are usually suspended in quite flexible rubber mount bushings, just for this purpose.
BTW, the level carb for fuel theory is the one I've always heard as Gospel from both "car guys" and in automotive trade school...sounds like a winner to me.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Wannabe
