8 3/4 Save or trash???

Here's what i would do:
Buy a bent or undesirable 8 3/4 housing with a good outer round pan.
Cut the good pan out of it bigger than the factory welds.
Trim (grind) it to the shape it was before the factory welded it on.
Clamp your A-Body housing to a metal table so it won't move or use a mandrel through the axle tubes.
Remove the bad area of the pan just before the weld starts.
Clean up your housing (grind smooth)
Weld new salvaged pan on.
Check axle tube alignment and straighten in press if necessary.
Clean housing and paint it.

I think this is the only way to do it and make it look factory..........