325i Manual Swap Issue

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chatstar123
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Post Mon Jul 20, 2026 8:49 pm

I have swapped my 1989 325i auto to a manual over a long period of time as one job always leads to ten. Im finally putting the car back together and I am trying to fit the propshaft but it seems too long by about 10-20 mm. The gearbox and prop were sourced separately but the Internet tells me the propshaft is the correct length at 1480 mm mesured flange to flange approx and the Getrag G260 gearbox fits well with no mods required to get into position and im told was from an E30. The diff and rear beam and suspension has all been out for a refurb but is original to the car. The prop has been refurbished but from memory is the same length as before. I stupidly didn't try to fit it into the car before the refurb. Im thinking to get the prop shortened to the correct length but I want to ask if anyone has any other thoughts on what I could be missing or if anyone has come across this problem before. The distance between the gearbox output flange and the diff flange is approx 1500mm so once the prop is fitted with the guibo it's too long. Also the centre spline is all the way in so I cant make it any shorter.
Thanks!
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BenHar
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Post Tue Jul 21, 2026 6:44 pm

Have you got the guibo the right way round?

Ben
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chatstar123
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Post Tue Jul 21, 2026 8:08 pm

I believe so, it has arrows pointing in both directions which line up with the flanges
Speedtouch
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Post Fri Jul 24, 2026 10:25 pm

Perhaps try loosening the engine mounts, to allow the engine a bit of wiggle room...
///M aurice
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