Thanks grumpy, yes they are mig welds. what I am intending to do with the welds is grind them back to level just in the areas where the battery sits. In preparation for doing that I made sure that at all the joins in that area I grinded large chamfers so that weld is not just on top it fills a full thickness V. I will black jack everything an refit small rubber mat that goes under the battery.
Don't quote me on this but I am pretty certain the MK1 evo was the first short shaft. I think you'll find the unsupported bearing housing is longer on the under deck side. I don't know the model it was fitted to but I did see it next to this style when I purchased it. Not sure about diameter, I think maybe the diameter is the same.
