Thanks Rick, but...
I would like to be able to see the stereo as I'm working. I've got to apply the exact same keyframes and effects to both L and R eye footage.
With just 3D layers, I can preview stereo fine. But to introduce L and R files, they would have to be separately inserted (in exactly the same places) in the L and R eye comps.
That's why I thought doing all the setup on the L file in L eye comp, copy paste to to R eye comp, then somehow swap out the footage (replace w R eye file). Then I'd have the L and R separately in the L eye and R eye comps, and can preview the effects in 3D.
(And I know when all looks good, I can separately render the L and R comps)