Jeeeeeeeeeeeeez! WTF! That's more like a JH "teardown" than a shakedown. GLAD you are OK.

My first gen had a vibration too and I hunted and hunted. Changed this bearing and that, and finally bit the bullet and bought a new driveshaft (mucho dinero) from Mazda ....now I feel very lucky that I got away with running it for as long as I did.

I know all the work you've put into that car, and you've fought the good fight. Nobody will think any the less of you for bailing on it, either temporarily or permanently, just don't go to the dark side and drive the SM too much!

I feel for you, and I'd love to see you get it back on the track and take a trophy. Thanks for posting the saga, I wish it had a better outcome..... hopefully this won't be the last chapter.