The method of not accounting for the angle of the transmission is described in the Direct Connection chassis manual and they call it "driveshaft angle" and "rear u-joint angle"...must be something different than pinion angle?

When I called Calvert Racing to find out where to set my "pinion angle" when installing Caltracs Travis replied "3° nose down to transmission, not driveshaft" I just chuckled and said yup.