Shortened 8.75?

Update, with the third member installed i have 25 1/2 from the center of the carrier to the end of the housing. The right axle is 25 1/4 from the bearing retainer to the end of the shaft and the left is 25 5/8 . This means they are not touching the center pin in the carrier. I am not sure how critical this is . Does anyone know if both axes are supposed to touch the center of the carrier?

I have a a body 8 3/4 that appears to have been shortened.This is based on 2 factors. The weld on the end of the tubes( where the flanges met up with the housing) and the axles not being of equal lengths. I picked it up at spring fling a few years ago, it has a locked up pinion and leaking fluid from the right axle. The carrier moved freely , the pinion is stuck even with the carrier removed. I have not taken it out of the housing because i am using a different 3rd member. I took it all apart yesterday and noticed the axles are not the same lengths. Both axle ends have been cut. One is cut more than the other making one axle slightly shorter than the other. I measured the axle housing and it measured 52 and 3/8. I know the axle is supposed to be 52 5/8. I am thinking this housing was shortened and the axles were shortened to match the housing. Right now i am thinking of just using the same axles and seeing what happens. I have not run into this before so I do not know the pro or the cons or how to verify if the axles are meeting in the middle. One axle measures 27 10/16, the other is shorter by 5/16.

Looking for suggestions and tips on what to do. Thanks