M52 Getrag 260- Driveshaft selection help questions.

[redrocket328]

UPDATE: Just found out the tranny is actually a 240 out of a 318is. So in that case, what driveshaft do I need to run?

Ok so let me say, first off, that I did not do this swap. I purchased the car from another member of the forums and after bringing it home and digging into everything, it has been a complete hack-job of a swap. I cant believe people are doing these swaps so half-ass and feel comfortable actually driving them. I took this car to the track one day and cant believe I didnt die.

That being said, sorry I had to vent, I have pretty much re-done this entire swap myself except for actually pulling the engine out.. I wanted to make sure it was done right.

The questions I have is what drive shaft, guibo, and center bearing to use. There is an M52 motor in the car, and I believe it is a Getrag 260 tranny based on the fact that the first 3 numbers on the part number on it begin with 260. I thought that was a safe assumption and since the car is a late '86 325es. It looks like the output flange is a 96 MM. It is using an E30 guibo with I believe a E30 driveshaft that came with the car.
Pulling the entire driveshaft out, it looks like this clown used washers between the guibo and the driftshaft so that it would be long enough.

QUESTION IS: What driveshaft combination do I need to use to make this thing work so I dont have to use washers? As of right now, without the washers, there is only about 1" of the splines into the other end of the driveshaft, which I dont feel comfortable with.

So far, with sticking with the 260 tranny. I am thinking to run the 96 mm output flange, that has 10mm bolt holes, and use an E36 guibo with 12 MM bolt holes with spacers that bring them back down to 10 mm to bolt to the guibo. Then I am thinking I will have to maybe use some sort of E36 front section of the half shaft that will bolt directly to the e36 guibo, and finally a E30 rear end of the half shaft, and a E30 center bearing in the middle.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

[DREWHALL]

Sounds scary. I just used the stock driveshaft in my car.

[frankie591]

I used my stock driveshaft with the g260. Did the guy buy a tilted trans brace or modify the stock brace?

[redrocket328]

I used my stock driveshaft with the g260. Did the guy buy a tilted trans brace or modify the stock brace?

That is something that I forgot to say. Im a bit confused because it looks like a stock trans brace under there. The trans doesnt seem tilted in any way either. The shifter sits a bit forward but isnt sideways.

As for the stock driveshaft, How much would you say the male splines fit into the female end of the driveshaft?

[frankie591]

That is something that I forgot to say. Im a bit confused because it looks like a stock trans brace under there. The trans doesnt seem tilted in any way either. The shifter sits a bit forward but isnt sideways.

As for the stock driveshaft, How much would you say the male splines fit into the female end of the driveshaft?

I don't know the exact dimension, but the length of the driveshaft m20 vs m52 was pretty much the same. He must have used some crazy tranny mounts in order to make a 260 work with a stock unmodified brace

[Cyrix2k]

Are you sure it's a g260? *Something* will be tilted 10* if it was used... either the engine(!?!?) or the trans. Anyway, it uses the same driveshaft as early e36s or e30s. I used my stock eta driveshaft for a g250, but it was bolted to a g260.

[N2MYE30]

Sounds like you dont have a G260 which would require a ~12* tilt clockwise. The stock tranny brace would work if it was modified to correct the angle. And yes, stock tranny, stock driveshaft, UNLESS it was once an auto. Not too sure then.

Here is a pic of a g260 with modded brace. Pic from Gunmetalgray...

[redrocket328]

Interesting... Yes, the tranny def isnt tilted like that. Where can I look to be able to identify what tranny it is?

Also, where the two halfs of the driveshaft meet, how far should the male end go into the female end with the stock driveshaft setup?

[redrocket328]

Just found out the tranny is actually a 240 from a 318. I spoke to the owner I purchased it from.

[redrocket328]

I looks like Ill be using the 240 tranny(for now) and will be purchasing an E36 325i guibo, 12mm-10mm reducers for the 3 bolt holes on guibo that bolt to the tranny output flange, E36 325i driveshaft, and E30 center support bearing.

Am I going to be using both the front and rear section of the driveshaft? and if so, will the rear section bolt up to the diff as normal.

[FredK]

Yes, you must use the E36 325i driveshaft in its entirety, front and rear sections. The rear part will bolt to the diff perfectly. The E36 325i has the same four bolt flange pattern as the E30.

[redrocket328]

Yes, you must use the E36 325i driveshaft in its entirety, front and rear sections. The rear part will bolt to the diff perfectly. The E36 325i has the same four bolt flange pattern as the E30.

Thanks fred. I know that the E36 guibo is going to have 12 mm bolt holes, while the tranny output flange is going to be 10 MM.

Can you confirm that I should use the E36 guibo and use the spacers/reducers on the three holes that are bolting up to the guibo?

[FredK]

Yes, that will work perfectly. The E36 325i guibo has the same 78mm bolt circle diameter as the E30 Getrag 240 output flange, but with 12mm bolt holes.

[rightcoastbias]

Thanks fred. I know that the E36 guibo is going to have 12 mm bolt holes, while the tranny output flange is going to be 10 MM.

Can you confirm that I should use the E36 guibo and use the spacers/reducers on the three holes that are bolting up to the guibo?

For my 24V swap I used a G240 with an E36 325i Manual drive shaft. The E36 Guibo bolt holes are located at the same 78mm center diameter as the G240's output flange, but the E36 Guibo bolt diameter is 12mm, not 10mm. I used the E36 Gubio by using a inserts. I used a lathe to turn down ~10 mm ID piping to the appropriate OD and slid them into the guibo on the G240 side.

I've put ~10,000 hard miles on the swap without an issue.

[redrocket328]

Bought all the parts this week. And picked up spacers to use on the guibo to reduce from 12mm-10mm. They fit perfect. Ill report back after the weekend to confirm it all bolted together properly.