No. They are relative to each other. The MP suspension book says pinion 5-7 degrees nose down compared to transmission output. That's little extreme for a street car, though. So, transmission output 3 down, would need pinion down "about" 6 degrees "or so" to be right on acceleration. Get it? The harder the car can launch and twist the pinion angle up, the more downward angle at the pinion you need.