I'm not sure how option 3 is a waste of parts. You get a rear gear you want and can turn around and sell your old rear to someone with a 2.73 rear gear that wants to step up, so you make some of your money back. Or in my case, I'm using my old rear for my 8.5 project.

 

Wow! Wish CA were that cheap! I looked around , $400 for the shop that will do the carrier swap, and that much for the carrier to not be totally suspicious (e.g. new).

Not wasteful here, way more z28 carcasses than demand. Mandated insurance is a wonderful thing... People by the SS wings, hood and wheels, the rest you can call your price on.

OP, I am running an open 3.42 in back of my V6(buyer got that but not LSD. Go figure), and run down the fwy at 80mph 2600rpm. I get about 20mpg on the hwy doing it, maybe a little more. Just did my first long trip and haven't calculated the exact gas usage.