OK,
I've got myself into a bit of a pickle and could use some suggestions. several weeks ago durring a half price weekend at the local picnpull I scored a 2.65 diff from a 1980 116 450sel with about 100k miles on it. Everything looked like it would be compatable with the 123 chasis, the dimensions, the mounting points. Well today an axle going bad on my 1982 300td inspired me to do the swap. As it turns out the diff bolts in just fine except the holes in the flange where the diff bolts to the rear flex disc are slightly farther apart than the 123 flex disc. I am not ready to admit defeat yet and can think of three possible solutions, 1) maybe the rear section of the 116 driveshaft can swap with the one in the wagon at the center bearing if they are the same length and I can just use the 116 flex disk? does anyone know if the universal joints in the drive shaft can be dissassembled and put back together? 2) Take the rear sections of both the SEL and 300TD drive shafts to a driveshaft shop and have them weld the SEL flange to the 300TD shaft and balance the whole deal-any ideas on what that might cost? 3) Even crazier, maybe there is a way to have a custom flex disk made that will work as an adapter? Does anyone know what other models have similar flex disks to the 116 ? Thanks in advance!

-On a side note the axles from the 116 look identical to the 123 exept they are about an inch too long.