Another update: Talked to the mechanic and the CV shop in Denver said that they could refurbish my axle, but nobody knows how they do it. The mechanic is calling to see what it is, exactly, that they do because they said that they didn't machine the outer race down and the mechanic said that maybe they cut the outer race off and weld a new one on. WHAT!?!
I don't like the thought of that. I mean this is a major drive component and if it is out of balance, or weak in any way then.... BOOM!! That's no good.
As a back-up I found just what I was looking for at a salvage yard in Ohio and they are shipping the entire driver's side axle (from the pumpkin out to the wheel) to me for $120. They say it's in good shape so I figured for that price I would get it here and see what's going on. Depending on what the CV shop does to my axle I may just put the used one in there if it's in good shape.
I also got a PM from BigMeatVX and he found an EMPI axle that should fit the VX just fine (part 87-9442 on this sheet: http://empius.com/cvjoints/cvjoints_pg86.html ), so if NOTHING else works I could easily replace everything with all new EMPI components.
This has been a HUGE P.I.T.A., but it looks like it's finally coming to an end.
NOW, once we get the axle back in we'll see if the noise that started this whole thing is still there, or if this takes care of it.
Does anybody else's head hurt?
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong, it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair."
-Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless