Is there any other way (less expensive) to determine what my car originally came with besides spending $75 on PHS?

First, welcome to the site.

2nd: To answer your question, not really. You can decode the data plate - but that is limited info and will not document every option.

3rd - please don't take this the wrong way, but long term you will find that the $$$ for full PHS documentation is very well spent regardless if you keep the car or plan to turn it around for (perhaps) some profit down the road.

Perhaps you should try to put that $$$ into perspective. You are heading down a road where you will most likely be spending a lot of money toward a restoration. I noticed you are looking for the complete mono spring rear for your car along with both traction bars. That left side bar is very rare and what you seek is going to cost you some coin. Your future expenditures are going to make the PHS cost look like peanuts.

I was very, very lucky many years ago and found that exact setup at the infamous Desert Valley salvage yard in Phoenix and got it for a steal. $700

$75 is not a lot to pay for the info it gives you, especially if you are wanting to restore to it's original form. I know of no other source for the same information.

OK thanks for replies! my two birds I have had since I was a teenager (30 years ago). I have been in the miltary for past 18 years and they just sat for that entire time. Now I'm back in the states and want to get them back to nice street condition (not show car but driver nice). Still not used to the idea of spending money on them as they were my daily drivers and were dirt cheap to drive and maintain back then I actually don't care if I have the original dual traction bar rear axle if I can find a better one that won't explode on speed shifting (original wasn't a 4 pinion posi, just a norm pos and blew apart). My days of street racing are long gone, just want reliable now. The axle I have now is a 68 one and it axle hops like mad as both shock mounts are on same side of axle, not staggered like a 68 would have had. Would love to get a 12 bolt with nice aftermarket bars really.

Funny that you should mention the 4-pinion axle. That was why my situation was a "steal". Turned out the rear I got was a '67 nodular iron 4-pinion. Never noticed that until I sent it out to be rebuilt.

There are a lot of folks out there that have upgraded an original 2-pinion 8.2 BOP rear with a modern posi unit from Auburn or Eaton for more security.