Almost done with my swap, ran into driveshaft issues!

[Jb325is]

Finally got the motor in the car for the last time (or so I thought) a week or so ago with Otis's mounts at position I, getrag 260 and e28(265)/e30 driveshaft. I was just finishing connecting everything up last night when I realized my stahl long tubes were going to hit the control arm and my driveshaft was too short by ~1". I figured I might as well go back to position II. I had wanted to in the first place but I couldn't get the motor that far back from the top because at the height it had to be to go over the engine mount stud the top bellhousing bolt would hit the firewall. I got the motor into position II by dropping the motor/subframe and moving it back out of the car, only to find that the driveshaft is STILL too short but just barely! I can only get a bolt in the center bearing bracket by pulling the bearing backwards, but that doesn't seem like a good idea since it needs pre-load towards the front of the car. Other than that i'm happy, I have about 2" clearance at the distributor, my headers clear the control arm and I'm right up against the firewall, looks much better that it did in position I.

But anyways, what I wanted to ask is does anyone have driveshaft measurements? I am running an e28 front from a car with a 265, is the 260 driveshaft going to be longer or shorter? What about e34 driveshafts? Also are all the center bearings the same? Mine is from an e34, don't know if that matters because it looked to be identical to the e30 center bearing.

[LowR3V'in]

If you loosen the collar that holds both pieces of the
shaft together, it will pull out some.

[Jb325is]

If you loosen the collar that holds both pieces of the
shaft together, it will pull out some.

Yeah, I know. I had to take the driveshafts apart to put them together. The front section is too short. When I bolt the guibo up, the center bearing doesn't reach the holes its supposed to bolt to

[Good & Tight]

When I bolt the guibo up, the center bearing doesn't reach the holes its supposed to bolt to

How much more does it need to go back for you to bolt up the center bearing and do you still have the firewall insulation on?

[LowR3V'in]

So what you're saying is that the
e28 535i w/265 is the same exact one as the
e30 325i m20 shaft? Just to be clear.

It was a tight fit w/ my driveshaft but the motor is what
you probably call position 3.

[flawdaboi407]

i had the same problem with the center bearing not lining up to the threads. I just drilled a new one on put a nut on the other side. Seems to be holding so far... and i drive hard.

[RickSloan]

I made a bracket to move the holes. Has held up for 30k now

[LowR3V'in]

So you guys are using the wrong year/style bearing? I don't get it
why the redrilling.

[Jb325is]

How much more does it need to go back for you to bolt up the center bearing and do you still have the firewall insulation on?

1/4-1/2".. Pretty much if the guibo is bolted up, the hole is directly under the end of the bracket. If I stretch the guibo back I can barely get the bolts in, but I don't really consider that fitting. Don't really want to drill another hole but I guess if there is no other driveshaft combo then I will. I'm wondering how much longer the 260 shaft is then, if it were ~1" longer I'd be in great shape.

Firewall insulation is gone, I had to beat the firewall at the back of the head and at the top of the tunnel for the top bellhousing bolt so I went ahead and cut out the insulation while I was at it. I'm really happy with this position though, everything fits great except for the driveshaft

[E30SPDFRK]

260 shaft will be way to long for you. My engine's distributor is about 1/4" from the radiator and the 260 shaft was like 2" too long.

[Good & Tight]

1/4-1/2".. Pretty much if the guibo is bolted up, the hole is directly under the end of the bracket. If I stretch the guibo back I can barely get the bolts in, but I don't really consider that fitting. Don't really want to drill another hole but I guess if there is no other driveshaft combo then I will. I'm wondering how much longer the 260 shaft is then, if it were ~1" longer I'd be in great shape.

Firewall insulation is gone, I had to beat the firewall at the back of the head and at the top of the tunnel for the top bellhousing bolt so I went ahead and cut out the insulation while I was at it. I'm really happy with this position though, everything fits great except for the driveshaft

If you can move the engine back another 1/2" I can make you another set with the extra 1/2" you need.

[Jb325is]

If you can move the engine back another 1/2" I can make you another set with the extra 1/2" you need.

I don't think I have that much room for my headers. Everything fits so perfectly right now that I really don't want to move it anymore. I'll let you know though if I can't devise some sort of solution for the driveshaft thing, might have to move it back.

What about e34, e24 or e30 big guibo shafts? All the same?

[kylelauffer]

take the back end of your three series drive shaft. front of the a 5 series or a 87 e one whatever has a big guibo. take it to a guy that has welded drive shafts before. it worked for me no vibration or anything

[Jb325is]

Got it to work with the 265 shaft, once I got everything bolted up on both ends I realized that it was only 1/8" off, pulled the center bearing back just barely and the bolts went in fine. A little worried about center bearing longevity but I guess we'll see.

[Good & Tight]

Got it to work with the 265 shaft, once I got everything bolted up on both ends I realized that it was only 1/8" off, pulled the center bearing back just barely and the bolts went in fine. A little worried about center bearing longevity but I guess we'll see.

Good to hear you got it sorted.