Long sitting/no usage, rear axle

I would pop the carrier out and throw a new set of clutches in it put that is just my ADD kicking in.

Honestly sounds like you funds are low, if the fluid was clean and the axle splines do not appear to have any twist in the splines I would put it together.

Also living in FL it has to be flat, so the gears should be nice with the od.
I ran a od with 3.23 here in the hills in WV in a duster and it really sucked, just not enough in high gear to pull the steeper hills, always down shifting to third.