See when you replace it watch you don't cross thread and/or strip the thread of the two bolts that go into the gear box end.i did this and ended up struggling to get a bolt to tighten into the softer alloy. Think I remember refiting these bolts without moving the driveshaft which was Houdini like.

that's another thing, while i was under there i reaslied that all the bolts were hanging out of the drivers side drive shaft

Hope you get it sorted soon mate, although your mishap seems to have provided a fair bit of entertainments. Explosive audience lol.

Tried it years ago on my old panda, it's not the explosion risk that's the problem, you'll just never get a weld to take in my experience because of the film of oil on it. I drilled a hole around the damaged bit and stuck a big nut and bolt in in the end, Then slapped chem metal all over the place.

all sorted

Awesome