That is hard to say, Since like you said, "RIDGID MOUNTED" My Fiat is a perfect straight line... Because there will be no movement in the rear, And very limited amount at the rear of the trans. I would just use what ever works out..Keep your trans and rearend parallel with each other..
Yep, for rigid just keep it all in as straight a line as you can manage. Barring that keep it all parallel.
I'm sure it doesn't matter much with the abuse we plan on giving the driveline, but u-joints aren't designed to work with 0 angle. The caps need to rotate on the cross some for them to live. Parallel will work quite well and make your junk live longer. Just have the trans setup for a degree or two down and have the pinion a matching angle up. So long as your mounts are stong enough, it shouldn't move around any so you can set it right on the angles.
Now that makes me wonder that if we could get'em damn close to straight through could we replace the rollers with bushings for better load spreading? ie; One large contact area rather than a bunch of thin ones. It is the rollers that usually blow after all.
Just get rid of the universals altogether , align it perfectly and use a solid shaft and couplers like any other altered!!!
What if the universal in universal joint were tested, as in the engine/trans and rear end were out of line (relatively severely; as viewed from the top)?
Depends on how much you call "relative severe". The universal joint doesn't know if it's out of line horizontally or vertically, so if it is within it's designed operating parameters it will work.
As stated previously, the u-joint don't care/know whether it's out of alignment vertically, horizontally, or at an angle. It just needs to have some angle to it. The bushings are out there, and work for more ultimate strength, but lifespan is considerably shorter. Luckily, they are rebuildable with new bushings if you keep an eye on them and catch 'em before it tears up the cross or caps.
Yep so am I ( cheap) , I am using old junk from a Rambler torque tube ....then again I will be using a Rambler motor too.
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