I've sure had good luck with tweakers regarding my car. Got it for dirt cheap from some, and I'm getting a 4th gen rear for under 200 bucks from one now. It's posi and either 3.23 or 3.42, and he's selling me the panhard bar, brace, shocks, springs and LCA's as well, included in the price. I'm excited. This will be much nicer than my 2.73 non-posi slug rear I have now. So my question to everyone is, should I stick all of the "extra" stuff from the rear into my car? They are from a 94 Z28, I've got a 87. I've boxed the panhard bar and brace, so I'm guessing they are better. I think he wants to give me the torque arm as well, but I don't think it bolts up, does it? Would it be any better? What about the springs and shocks? I'm fairly sure mine have never been replaced, so even just 7 year newer shocks/springs is good, correct? Sorry, about the rant, but I'm tired and kinda jittery from being excited about this. Thanks folks.

EDIT: and its got disc brakes, I've got rusty @ss drums, yay! now if only some tweakers would get me some cheap headers... Also, where do I acquire the spacers I've read that I need to use my stock wheels?

The shocks may be worth if if they have some life left but everything else is not really worth it. I say that because everything back there is just as good as you have right now. They didn't make any serious changes to the parts back there over the years. Your wheels are gonna stick out a bit but good score non the less!

EDIT: I read your edit. You do not need spacers. You need spacers to run 4th gen wheels on 3rd gens. You can run 4th gen wheels without spacers with that rear. You stock ones will stick out thought isnce the 4th gen rears are about 4" wider than 3rd gens.

You mean I can run 3rd gen wheels without spacers? Anyways, thanks for the response. What's the best way to tell if shocks "have any life left" if they aren't on the car? Wouldn't them and the springs be better by virtue of being 7 years newer?

I would only use the springs if your old ones are worn out and the car has a sag to it. If you pull on the shock and extend it all the way out it should not slide back down under its own weight. If you wantch it slide back in than it is shot. You do not need spacers with 3rd gen wheels on 4th gen rear. Your wheels will stick out a bit because the 4th gen rear is so much wider. You only need spacers when you run 4th gen or vette wheels on a 3rd gen rear/front. So since you have this rear you can run 4th gen or vette wheels with only spacers up front. The rear would not need them.

Your probably going to need to adapt emergency brake cables ,at least i did when i switched from a 9 bolt with discs to a 4th gen disc brakes.

Does anyone know how to determine the gearing ratio of my new rear end with the number stamped on the pumpkin? I've googled around, but haven't come up with much

They only came with 3:42's
If it was a 6 speed,.T-56