| |
Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,168 Posts1,057,027 Members48,458 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 45 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2005 Posts: 45 | I am building a 30 ford truck streetrod with a 261 3x1 intake and my plans was to have a nice healthy rake on the truck. I wanted it to look like someone built the truck level with the ground and then jack the rear end up on it. To get this look the motor,cab and transmission will end up at about a 3 degrees tilt with the front of the motor being lower than the rear of the motor by about 1 1/2". At this 3 degree tilt the motor would still set parallel with the trucks frame rails.
Now I'm having second thoughts as to if this amount for forward tilt on the engine may affect the oil drain back in the oil pan.?? Also the trans (4 speed saginaw) will also have a 3 degree tilt and the tailhousing will be higher than the front of the trans. And I am thinking maybe the rear trans bearing may not get the lub it needs. ??? I know the three carbs would also be tilted slightly towards the front of the truck but I don't think that it would mess up the intake balance that much. Also using Stromberg BXOV's and I don't think 3 degrees forward tilt would bother the floats that much at all. (the floats may just need to be adjusted slightly)??
But it's the engine oil system and transmission lub that is giving me second thoughts. ???
Does anyone have any opinion on tilting my engine 3 degrees down in front?
I look at it as if it would be like driving down a 3 degree hill all the time. (providing I was on level ground all the time.
Please give me your thoughts.
Thanks,
Ed | | | | | Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 327 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 327 | 1930 truck, Normally, gas engines in cars and trucks have a 3 degree "positive' rise to them.(this allows for a smaller tunnel). Drag race cars/trucks,normally, have a 2-3 degree 'negative' to them. This allows for better weight transfer to the rear of the chassis.
On carburetor cars there is usually a wedge under the carb to allow them to set level.
My possible concern would be your pinion angle.
I don't see any major problems to what you are doing. Are you making it for daily driving or drag racing?
Oly in Oregon Rest in Peace1945 GMC COE Victory Truck 1953 Willys CJ3B 1955 Chevy 1st series 3/4-ton 1958 WIFE Last series Never say "Whoa" in a mud hole
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 637 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 637 | One thing to watch for is the oil level, since the oil pump feeds from the rear of the pan if your oil level gets too low the oil pump will starve and oil pressure will go away. This is not good, you will lose the bearings in the lower end in short order. It will be especially critical on heavy braking. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 45 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2005 Posts: 45 | This is going to be a daily driver. I think I will be able to adjust my pinion angle because I have an adjustable 4 bar setup. The 'tunnel' I am not concerned with because this is a complete ground up build and I haven't got to making the floor yet.
One would think (??) that the design of the motor would be designed to saftly operate as if it were being driven like comming out of the smokie mountians. It would not be unusal to drive going down hill (or up hill), for an extended length of time.
This may be a good question fon an old GM design engineer, but unfortunately I don't know any.
Ed
| | |
|
|
| |
