8.25 build
Prostocker, I love the fact that you are committed to building a tougher 8 1/4 rear. don't take me as being a know it all here. however, for $1,000 you could be in the ball park of a built 8 3/4 and be so much stronger for future upgrades. not to mention doing away with C-clips, rear cover type installs, and having so many more options to aftermarket parts.
I suffer from heading astray on some of the parts of my builds at times, and have to have buddies jerk me back to rational thinking when I get committed to something that has a better option for the same or only slightly more money.
just putting that out there, but I know you have already bought the parts and are in full commitment at this point. I still will be following your build and hope that the rear takes all the punishment you can give it and then some!