Rear end options.

Dana 35's are dirt cheap to score parts from, most have a track lock and you can also use the disk brakes from the Cherokees for 2-350 or so just change the bearings out and you are good, inspect the friction plates out also if new is needed they are around 80 or so. I have a 8 1/4 behind a 440 and it is plenty strong. I am with Rob keep it! I get them all the time and find 3.55, 3.73 and 4.11 gears that can swap all the time and the bonus is you can get the rear disks for it for almost nothing to fit the 8 1/4 I did a thread on it a while ago.