Originally Posted by 97 SL320

I had looked into something similar for a R129 project.

Late 80's / 90's Ford T bird / Lincoln / some Mustang / Explorer Sport Trac have IRS . These came in 7.5" and 8.8", with some Mustang and Explorer using aluminum 8.8 housings. Parts from a solid axle 8.8 appear to interchange. Cars had a low spline count axle, trucks more.

There is a very wide range of ratios for the 8.8 and limited slips are everywhere. (If you look at the axle tag on the door, a letter + number is a 99.9 % sign it is limited slip , two numbers will be an open axle. The metal tag is usually rusted off the diff, if it exists, 3L45 is LSD , 3.45 is open.

The stock inner Ford joint is a tri pod type , The Drive Shaft Shop ( DSS ) can make axle flanges to convert to bolt on CV's. The trick would be to find a stock MB axle bar of the proper length to minimize custom parts.