Pinion Angle? Do I have this right before I cut it up?

When the car squats and the axle wraps up; all the angle relationships change. The only angle that stays constant is the crank (except when it comes to traction). Leaf springs are notorious for massive upward pinion angles under load, and four links are considered the opposite. The sad truth is; only a video camera aimed at the pinion will tell you the whole story. But even if your trans/pinion angles are perfect under load, how they got there will dictate how well the tires plant.