Did someone take the "cover" to the driveshaft off at some point in time? It seems to me that the driveshaft being held up would have kept the differential from falling very far. I just removed a differential today at a wrecking yard(to get at the axles, since i did not have the 12 point star bit to remove the flanges on the "upgrade" axles). It took a lot of work to get that differential to the ground. They added a "hanger" on the differential cover on the later 126s, that gives it a redundant support. Maybe those will fit on the older differential as well.

Glad to hear fate/God intervened in your situation.