84 533/ 86 535 Drivetrain swap
 

I'm swapping drivetrains from an '84 533i to an '86 535i and vise versa.
I'm aware of the driveshaft incompatabilities and am swapping those as well (also change rear diffs/ covers for compatability of mounting)
My question:
The 84 533 has the old style shifter bracket where as the '86 535i has the "newer" aluminum one. Obvious the bodys also have the mount for their original shiter brackets.
Do I swap body brakets or can I swap rear tranny casing?
Looks like the old style metal braket will bolt right up to the 535i tranny.
But...the newer aluminum bracket will NOT bolt onto the 533 tranny.
Should I get another metal bracket?
I'm also putting the 14.5 lb. flywheel on the 535i motor. with a 3:73 LSD in the 533. The 533 is pristine and will be my driver...the 535 will become a 533 and be for sale.
535i shift linkakage/bracket:

http://www.astheroundelturns.com/gal...ackets_002.jpg

533i shift linkakage/bracket:

http://www.astheroundelturns.com/gal...ackets_001.jpg

Why are the drive shafts different? Looks like the output shaft on the tranny's are a different length?

OT, but you say you have a '75 Opel. both my parents had Opel GT's, it was around 75 but I don't remember the exact year.

Thread jacker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111
Gt's stopped in '73 (big bumper requirements). the GT bodies where built in france...everything else- German.
My '75 Opel Ascona:


http://www.astheroundelturns.com/gal...Enkeis_001.jpg

aha!

to be honest about the 535/533 thing... I don't think anybody here has ever dealt with those era cars. you might have better luck at www.bimmerforums.com

problem solved...spot welded body brackets for shift linkage on the '84 533 & the '86 535 are identical.

:( ouch :cry

haha i own one and iv never even get to do stuff like this

the 3.5 started as a bored out 3.3, when the 3.5 came around the 533 faded off. leaveing esentialy a line in the sand when it comes to your situation, with either a getrag 260/5, 260/6 or 265/6. ( 265 has detachable bell housing) with 2 differant kinds of shift mechanisms, up till ( and including some ) 1986 models they had a sheetmetal mech. using a 2 piece plastic bearing. on the aluminum version came in 86 and later models where the lever and bearing are held to the frame by a retaining ring.
basicly, they are differant simply because of thier age. no real reason that i know of