Not sure where that measurement is derived from but, I've recently measured the front section of one I have from a factory 1986 300E manual transmission installation,

“The length of the front driveshaft section is 32 3/4 " from the outside/forward face of the trilobe to the end of the shaft where the split female splined section ends. “

http://www.peachparts.com//shopforum/showthread.php?t=284616&highlight=driveshaft

33"ish sounds about right. Don't go too long... mine was 1/4" from fitting when I got it.

__________________
08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

FWIW The proper cross member costs a whopping $32.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

It does

Do you have a part num for me? Are you REALLY sure it's the right one?

__________________
08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

So... my original 2.65 diff is bad. It has a clunk and lots of play. That is not necessarily a bad thing cause I want a shorter rear diff anyway.

So flash forward to today.. I have a new diff. I thought I was getting a 3.27 260E/300E open diff, that is what I wanted. Once home with it I figured out it's a 3.29 ASD diff from a 300TE 4 Matic.

So I have learned that this diff is suppose to be a bit wider than mine and that the half shafts will be too long.... but this info is from a site that is swapping diff into w201's. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?

I know I would need to replace the diff clutches to get the LSD function to work. I have some wagon stuff to tie up then I can pull the diff and go from there.

I wouldn't mind trading someone for a 3.27 260E diff like I wanted.

diff swap site

__________________
08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

Don't forget that your car has the 3-channel ABS with the sensor on the pinion, the 4matic IIRC has 4-channel with no pinion sensor and 4 wheel sensors instead like an ASR car.

If what you were discribing to me as a clunk occurs while turning, you likely have a chipped/broken tooth which is what makes these things "explode", shifting on that chip (don't ask how I know). Good to get it off of the road.

Last resort, I have the subframe almost complete from an 87 300D laying on the shop floor up in MI (yes, it's the stock 2.65:1, sorry).

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

this new diff has a pinion sensor, just one. It was clunking on the jack stands while idling in 3rd gear or higher. Might explain the loud howl I was getting at low rpms and high gears.. ie staring from a rolling stop in 2nd.

__________________
08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

I ordered it from Rusty, I am sure you can find it here as well. Just the 300E 5spd manual trans cross member. I sure hope its the right one. I will get the part number for you.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Sweet...

This would be great, as I love a manual. But I have to many other projects to even think about doing something like this. Maybe you should get good at it and just offer it as a service!

BTW, your youtube videos made me lol at at least a half dozen times....

I can't find Rusty anymore, buymbparts was sold a year or so ago and it's a basic ricer-shop now.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Here is the vin#WDB1240301A171598 from the 300 E i got every thing i needed to convert my 300TD here is some pictures.
I have driven 4K miles with no issues. I'm running a 9.5 clutch

Attached Thumbnails

   

Fear not, Rusty lives, he's at buy mb parts dot biz, or the usual toll-free number (800-741-5252).

__________________
Dave
Boise, ID
Check out my website photos, documents, and movies!

Heck yeah... 2.65 is way too tall for an overdrive tranny. I'd put a 3.27 in there. If you want max fuel economy, a go with a 3.07 diff. (Preferably LSD!)



Cool! It's got LSD internals.



You can either get the 4Matic half-shafts, or swap the output flanges from your old diff on to the 4Matic diff. The input flange will probably need to be swapped as well.



Only if they are worn, but yes, new clutches would be a good idea. I very highly recommend doing the full LSD conversion. It's one of the few mods that I wish I had done many years ago, even though it cost >$1k in the end. I've got factory LSD in my '87 300D as well my E500, the 500E got a Quaife this summer.

My DS is at the shop getting chopped if I can get coverage for the kids I will be doing the swap this weekend.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Aw shiite I didn't know gsxr stopped by. Sweet! He is always full of loads... of information.

I need to attempt the diff swap before it gets too cold. Good to know I can make this diff work. Although I would still prefer to have a standard 3.07/3.27 diff for now. Can I replace the diff clutches at a later date with the diff installed? There is really no chance in me dumping that kind of money right now. I am glad to hear some agrees that the 2.65 is way too tall!

winmutt hope you can do the swap soon. But it does open up a can of worms as far as other mods go. Once your shifting your own gears you find all sorts of things that need modded.

My short list is:
rear diff swap
"turn up" the ip I have in the basement
boost/egr gauges
3" exhaust
new clutch

Then I still have the 400e to swap parts for(interior, suspension, etc).



The never ending project

__________________
08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D