Well, there's good news and "I'm not too sure" news:
Popped the cover off and no chunks fell out...matter of fact, I couldn't see anything wrong with the carrier or the gearset at all.
Here's what I did find...the "good news"
Drivers side axle:
The passenger side axle appears to be undamaged, I don't even see any twist to the splines. I couldn't get the remnant of the drivers side axle to slide in far enough to dis-engage the c-clip groove, so I had to pull the whole carrier out.
Thank <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">GOD</span></span> the carrier pin retainer bolt didn't break!
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img]
Here's what was left of the drivers side axle:
Again, the ring & pinion appear to be undamaged:
Here's the "I'm not so sure" news--
While turning the diff to get the U joint strap bolts out, rotation felt very "clunky". As soon as the driveshaft was disengaged from the rear end, the ring & pinion rotated freely.
I've had enough for today so I'm not going to check it right now, but if that new transmission is hurt, the car's going to a 400 Turbo.
More sometime over the weekend.