[DeTomaso] Engine position

Mon Oct 5 14:59:14 EDT 2015

In a stone-stock Pantera, the halfshafts run at a small compound angle at all times; they are not straight across (zero angle) even when the car is parked. Hooke-type u-joints can compensate for quite an angle with no bad results at all. In fact, a small angle is preferred since that makes the needle bearings in the u-joints move a bit in operation. Same theory in using a 2 degree angle on a front-engine driveshaft. Without some motion, the u-joint needles will pound on the exact same point on their shafts, soon flat-spotting the tiny needles or indenting the shafts. Our street Pantera has had its powertrain dropped 1" and slid back 3/4" for nearly a decade with no ill effects. Bob Byars slides his very high-torque big-block conversions backwards FOUR FULL INCHES, on custom engine and transaxle mounts, and even long-distance driving or open track racing does not ruin the stock u-joints he uses. I'd say the halfshaft angles are unimportant; whats important is making sure u-joints are well greased..

Is there a desired alignment of the transaxle with the rear wheel
axle? The motor fore and aft position could have the half shafts at a
horizontal angle.
While asking, the same concern about half shaft angle when ride height is
changed.

-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph F. Byrd, Jr. <byrdjf at embarqmail.com>
To: 'bill gaino' <gaino at earthlink.net>; 'poca list' <detomaso at poca.com>
Sent: Mon, Oct 5, 2015 11:37 am
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Engine position

Bill, I can't help with your question, but I have a related question for
the
group.

Is there a desired alignment of the transaxle with the rear wheel
axle?
The motor fore and aft position could have the half shafts at a
horizontal
angle.
While asking, the same concern about half shaft angle when
ride height is
changed.

Bill, hope you're dry!

Joe/NC

-----Original
Message-----
From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com] On Behalf Of
bill gaino
Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2015 16:02 PM
To: poca list
Subject:
[DeTomaso] Engine position

Engine mounts are designed to position the engine
as far forward as possible
by mounting the stands with the holes mostly
forward. BUT, When I do that
the drive pulley scrubs the front firewall and the
trans mount are too far
forward. Word on the street says early cars MAY have
the engine positioned
rearward. This is what we will try tomarrow.  Does
anybody have theirs
mounted in this rearward fashion?  Bill
1362

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-------------- next part --------------
   In a stone-stock Pantera, the halfshafts run at a small compound angle
   at all times; they are not straight across (zero angle) even when the
   car is parked. Hooke-type u-joints can compensate for quite an angle
   with no bad results at all. In fact, a small angle is preferred since
   that makes the needle bearings in the u-joints move a bit in operation.
   Same theory in using a 2 degree angle on a front-engine driveshaft.
   Without some motion, the u-joint needles will pound on the exact same
   point on their shafts, soon flat-spotting the tiny needles or indenting
   the shafts. Our street Pantera has had its powertrain dropped 1" and
   slid back 3/4" for nearly a decade with no ill effects. Bob Byars
   slides his very high-torque big-block conversions backwards FOUR FULL
   INCHES, on custom engine and transaxle mounts, and even long-distance
   driving or open track racing does not ruin the stock u-joints he uses.
   I'd say the halfshaft angles are unimportant; whats important is making
   sure u-joints are well greased..