9 inch rear end questions

[Double Venom]

OK,
"Car Craft", "How To Set Pinion Angle
Ask 10 Guys About Optimal Pinion Angle And A Lively Debate Will Ensue".....
Bob, I do see exactly what you are talking about, We used Carroll Smiths book on how to set up DV II's, front and rear suspension, At one time I had the Hot Rod article you are talking about so I know how/what you speak.

I have tried to keep this whole thing simple because most guys simiply do this once and I am referring to strictly a guy building his CR's in his garage. I'm not getting into the physics of the driveline thing, but the way a CR's motor is normally set into the frame. The only thing I explained to Scott was to set the car while it was on the ground with fully loaded suspension. (Yes I am assuming his garage floor is as level as most garage floors.)
I Intentionally did not talk about the 'Horizon plane' or IRS- (IRS= level as possible).
Every article you posted was basically for a street car with one chart for various cars.
My point was to help build CR's as simple and correctly as possible. Not to give lessons on building a virgin driveline.

Forgive me if I misssed it but I did not see one word about the pros or cons on the pinion angle (as I am referring to.) See the above picture of a Pinion/Rear end that went way over-in my words "positive"* under a major load.)

I absolutely have no doubt that you are well knowledgeable and or experienced in setting up rear ends so please do not take my debate as a negative. A good debate is good for all.

*General consensus from the Ol' Man, (Jegs Coughlin) and Honda Engineers on my rear end splitting in half was; My launch was harder than normal, around 4,400/4,800 RPM vs 4,200 RPM the shift from 1st to second was quicker, or traction after the Funny cars had run- traction was greater than normal. When I slammed Second gear, ( the nose was still up or airborne, the pinion had not had a chance to drop back to "close to normal". This apparently caused a major "wheel hop as the pinion went to a Plus angle and snapped the housing immediately." This, in my explanations is where I should have had the pinion set at Minus 3.5, there by not letting the driveline angle-pinion to go over or in the plus range. Race and learn!
DV