quote:Originally posted by Bosswrench:
FWIW, be careful of the ZF version made for the BMW M-1. Almost none of the internal bits interchange with a 'std' ZF 5DS-25/2. The shafts have larger ODs, the internal bearings & gears are larger so do not fit and the diff case section is externally changed. Halfshafts used CV joints rather than std U-joints. Supposedly stronger M-1 guts can be fitted to the earlier ZF cases by a skilled machinist, but I've never seen one so done. Again, because the M-1 ZF was a limited semi-racing/production sub-model, few spares exist and almost no one is an 'expert' with that ZF variant. I suspect most have had a far rougher life than the avg. Pantera ZF. Maybe someone at ZF in the Schwaebisch Gmuend Werks could give you more info, if you find one.
************* Jack, I'm sorry to say you have erroneous information on the ZF used in the M-1 cars. The street box for the M-1 major differences are: Synchro cones will only work with an M-1 gear - the limited slip is the conical disc higher lock up unit- the CV stub axles can be swapped for the standard 1/2 shaft pieces in the Pantera - ALL of the bearings and shafts are the EXACT SAME size as the Pantera type 2 box and the externals of the case have been majorly reenforced along with more bosses for different mounting uses.......that's all.
I've swapped M-1 components (guts) into our cases dozens of times and put our guts into M-1 cases and EVERYTHING fits.
I have also serviced and repaired several "racing M-1" ZF's and all points I have stated above hold true also!!!
Now....... gears, bearings, input shaft, and synchro rings can NOT be mingled between dash-1 & dash-2 ZF's. Here there "ARE" different bearing sizes used on the input shafts, but ALL of the outside bearing diameters are the same where they press into the case.
When it comes to the very early "dash-0" ZF nothing internal is interchangeable between it and dash-1, dash-2, and the M-1 ZF. Way different sizes and lengths of these parts.
Hope this helps clarify this myth regarding the M-1 ZF. *****************