LSx Valiant Build. Take a look inside...

DING DING DING!! We have a winner!



And another!! But, as mentioned elsewhere in this thread and in daily life, opinions...assholes, some assembly required. Water off a duck's back bro--they don't live your life.

If I were looking for the quickest way to get something running, from a logic, and as prorac1 mentioned, "dollars and sense" perspective, a used LS engine is damn near impossible to argue, especially if you have the fab capability to make it happen. Parts bin engineering is what keeps the hobby affordable and even if I might have my own personal reservations about some of the folks who do LS swaps (personality wise), the logic is there. Mopars are already expensive enough to deal with for most drivetrain parts (especially the rears), why overburden oneself with adding more money than necessary just to have a "correct" engine in it, unless that's what's important to you?
Thats why the furd xploder sport trac rears are popular. Lets break it down

8.8 with popular gear ratios.
Sport trac uses 3.73 ratio standard
Same as Mopar 5 on 4&1/2 stud pattern
Trac lok LSD
Rear disc brakes
Price $200 at junkyard
$50 extra right side axle to shorten, then install.

Xploder axle cant be beat for the price.