Well got the new used diff in and all is good. A 2.87 came out and another 2.87 went in. Who knows but I am glad this all worked out.

I am going to post a picture to show the damage inside. Must have been a manufacturing issue from the factory. Incredible amount of play. It clearly looks as though the two metals had a much different hardness grade. Pretty amazing the thing held together for 19 years and 97 k miles.

I now know what the clunking into third and fourth gear was all about. The car also sort of used to make a thud when put in reverse. Also on the way home last night the cruise control did not become rough when going downhill (of and on gas it used to seem). The cruise control used to cut itself out going downhill following the surging of the gas off and on.

All of these items have been present since the car was new. It may have been getting progressively worse over the years but I think the progression of it was like watching grass grow.

Really feels like an entirely different car.