WOW this is my lucky day!
I found a take-off caliper on eBay, like new at 20 miles from a Camaro SS 1LE, and it's driver side rear! It cost $299. Phew!
Now, back to the diff install:- I started working on removing the pumpkin tonight, and started by removing the exhaust (which I had to cut since it was one piece), and draining all the oils: engine, transmission, and diff.
- Engine and transmission oils looked fine, and especially the transmission oil looked like new, clear red.
- The diff fluid was dirty, but more importantly, the magnetic drain plug had a thick butter-like metal build-up. I have already cleaned such build-up back when I replaced the diff fluid in the beginning of the season, so it's clearly wearing out. I am pretty excited to be replacing the diff!
- The diff cooler's instructions call for removing both rear hubs; it is overkill. I am following Pfadt's bushing instructions, for which you have to remove the pumpkin, too.
- I stopped today when I discovered the brake caliper damage, but I should be able to get done with it this weekend, and plan to give the pumpkin to the differential shop on Monday, so they can change its internals.