Thank you everyone for all the information. What I'll do then is look for a later "A" body rear end. Pull the carrier and gears out of the short one I built for the Firebird. And, have a shop install them in the later "a" body 8.5". Unless that is the same parts that fit the 8.5 O got from the Nova will not fit the "A" body 8.5" in which case I'll just stomp my feet and start over again watching good money chase bad money.
Good day friends. Mike