I'm about to swap a G250 into my M50-powered e30 (currently has a G24). I currently have an e36 325i driveshaft, which with the G240 has about 1/2" remaining visible splied section on the slip joint.
However, the G250 is an inch longer at the output shaft than the G240. The internet seays the driveshaft I have works fine with the engine/transmission combo, but I can't see how that's possible.
So my thought is that one way to get the extra half-inch I need (and a tad more) woudl be to remove the "cap" at the end of the forward section of the DS. This:
It's seems to have a softer material (not metal) that aligns with the splines and "seals" when you tighten it, and I assume is meant to hold the grease in the DS. So without it there I assume some grease could get out and/or junk get in. Now, this is for the rally car so it's not driven other than in competition ...so removing it between rallies and cleaning it all out and re-greasing it isn't really a problem.
Any thoughts over whether there would be any short-term issue with using it without the "cap" on it?
Well....
Look up Volvo angle gear collar failure.
The failure is caused by a splined connection between two parts that have a small degree of relative motion, and nothing to seal it from the elements. It frets, the metal powder turns to rust, which is also known as jeweler's rouge.
I have seen this failure happen to the front driveshaft of all wheel drive BMWs, and between the transmission and transfer case in a couple Caddy CTS4s.
If you pull it apart and regrease it regularly, probably okay. The Volvo collar thing requires that you remove the angle gear for access, which is not awful (especially if you also remove the downpipe for easier access to that one bolt) but not something you're going to do every oil change.
As far as that cap goes.... I was somehow under the impression that its purpose was to prevent relative motion. I have not worked on nearly enough E30s for my own good, but I remember that it needs to be loosened to be able to slide the Guibo back at all.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
Well....
Look up Volvo angle gear collar failure.
The failure is caused by a splined connection between two parts that have a small degree of relative motion, and nothing to seal it from the elements. It frets, the metal powder turns to rust, which is also known as jeweler's rouge.
I have seen this failure happen to the front driveshaft of all wheel drive BMWs, and between the transmission and transfer case in a couple Caddy CTS4s.
If you pull it apart and regrease it regularly, probably okay. The Volvo collar thing requires that you remove the angle gear for access, which is not awful (especially if you also remove the downpipe for easier access to that one bolt) but not something you're going to do every oil change.
As far as that cap goes.... I was somehow under the impression that its purpose was to prevent relative motion. I have not worked on nearly enough E30s for my own good, but I remember that it needs to be loosened to be able to slide the Guibo back at all.
you can still slide it with it tightened but it takes a good bit more effort. Inside the cap is a spline profile, but it's not steel its some other material.....dense felt, or plastic, or something like that. I assume that as you tighten it, it compresses that insert longitudinally, causing it to "press in" on the splines and presumably seal grease in, and the elements out.
I suppose it could be for relative motion. The BMW part is called "clamping ring" vice "dust cover or whatever so..."
