g240 vs g260

[DrFlathead]

Thanks ethrty. modifying the mounts or building a new crossmember is about as basic as it gets. Im an animatronics fabricator by trade. I would just like to see some pics of what guys on this forum are using. Ive been searching but there is SO much swap info its like looking for a needle in a hay stack. When it comes down to it ill just mount up the motor where it needs to be, bolt the trans to the motor and support the trans (with drive shaft still mounted up) with a jack, then take measurements and fab up and tig weld a tubular crossmember out of 304ss. (then polish it just to show off... lol)

Then maybe make a fixture off the first one and sell them for $$$$$$$$$$

[rattlsnak]

for swaps where the cylinder number stays the same(6cyl to 6cyl) use the driveshaft from the SAME car the tranny came from.

Thats where i have an issue. I have a drivetrain (eng,trans,d/s)from an e36 325 that has a g260 (apparantly the previous owner changed it for some reason). Should I use the e36 d/s or the e30 d/s? thats why Im asking if the e36 and e30 d/s is the same, as i have the one from the e36 but it had a g260, not a g250. I plan on using the g260 but need to know if the e36 and the e30 d/s is the same.

if i go with the g240, i will use the e36 d/s.

[ethrty]

yours is a wierd case having the G260 from an E36. Id suggest to just take the two DS's and check the lengths and bolt the one that fits when you put the engine in. Someone that has an E30 325i manual driveshaft may be kind enough to measure it for you. I would if i had one lying around sorry

[DrFlathead]

Thats where i have an issue. I have a drivetrain (eng,trans,d/s)from an e36 325 that has a g260 (apparantly the previous owner changed it for some reason). Should I use the e36 d/s or the e30 d/s? thats why Im asking if the e36 and e30 d/s is the same, as i have the one from the e36 but it had a g260, not a g250. I plan on using the g260 but need to know if the e36 and the e30 d/s is the same.

if i go with the g240, i will use the e36 d/s.

All I can say is dont make any important decisions based off of someone elses word (although ethrty seems to know his shit). Get under there and take measurements. I wont fully believe that I can use my stock length drive shaft untill I get my hands on an m50 and make sure it te same length as my m20 (or at least close enough). My personal opinion is to go with the g260 if your planning on building a lot of power. I've seen them hold up to VERY HIGH horsepower (it doesnt hurt that these cars get no traction though) If you want I could measure my 325is drive shaft this weekend (my floor jack broke have another one on order, should be here by then). Also make sure that the e36 drive shaft mounts up to the trans output the same as the e30 shaft.

[DrFlathead]

Wow, didnt realize your g260 is from an e36. Strange. Well at least you wont have a problem mounting it to the trans (that is if its the right length) Although shortening a drive shaft is pretty easy if you can weld and have access to a big lathe.

[ethrty]

Wow, didnt realize your g260 is from an e36. Strange. Well at least you wont have a problem mounting it to the trans (that is if its the right length) Although shortening a drive shaft is pretty easy if you can weld and have access to a big lathe.

Yeah thats not normal. His donor is a freak case... ive never heard of a g260 in an E36 before

[DrFlathead]

Its very possible it didnt come in that car from the factory.

[ethrty]

Its very possible it didnt come in that car from the factory.

99.9% sure it wont have. They have a different bellhousing all together. And its not like the bellhousing is removable so BMW could just put on a different bellhousing and bolt it up to the M5x. And they wouldnt install a gearbox 10 degrees off the angle it was designed to run at either

My moneys on that the tranny would have been replaced by a non bmw mechanic who sourced a 325i tranny thinking they are all the same, realised he fucked up, and had to work with what he had. The E36 will probably have a modified trans bracket, or he might have done it the whorey way and used a pry bar to get it on.

[DrFlathead]

Oh god, well I guess ive seen worse. As far as the bellhousing the bolt pattern is still the same right? just mounts up rotated a little right?

[ethrty]

Oh god, well I guess ive seen worse. As far as the bellhousing the bolt pattern is still the same right? just mounts up rotated a little right?

I havent bolted a 260 to an M5x personally, but aparently only 4 of the 7 bolts line up. fortunately it is the 4 main load bearing bolts, (the other 3 are just smaller reinforcement bolts), but despite what you would think, they are sufficient. thats another win to the g240 btw, with all 7 bolts lining up on that.

[DrFlathead]

That sounds a little sketchy. I usually over build everything, although since I already have my factory g260 with ~90k miles im going to stick with it. Plus bigger input/output shafts, better metallurgy in gears... etc.

Not properly torquing ALL the bolts will lead to high stress points and unusual wear. Not good for me considering the only reason for me to go through with this is for a VERY high power application.

Well if it becomes an issue I can always go with a dog box, or a lenko if I decide to go turn it into an all out drag car.

[ethrty]

if you are going anything beyond a stock or very mildly tickled engine, go for the E36 ZF trans. its far superior to both of them, and was designed for the power and torque of the M5x and is the gearbox of choice for turboed M/S5x cars. Really, the only thing better than that is the 6 speed from the E46 M3

[DrFlathead]

I really dont like the idea of no overdrive. Ill probably just end up running the g260 till it blows up, then cross that bridge when it comes.

Edit: BTW ive heard of the stock g260 hold up to MASSIVE power, but not 10,000 rpm shifts.

[ethrty]

running a lower diff ratio will get the same result..

[DrFlathead]

you mean taller