In 2021. Dollar for dollar, a ford 8.8 out of a ranger or explorer is the best value per dollar you can buy.
8.25 rear ends used to be plentiful but most people who say they are now in 2021 are living in the past because they are just not around and certainly not the cheap rear ends they used to be. Most sellers now are very proud of them even when they have crappy grandma gears and open.
Ford 8.8s are still very available and can be had for couple hundred or less and a lot of them come with limited slip already and gear selection is vast and very affordable. The summit catalogs they send you in mail have a list of parts available for the ford 8.8. The ford 8.8 can take all the horsepower your slant or small block can dish out and probably a lot more and they can be built with thicker axles and pinions for even more.
90s ford ranger or explorer at your local pick a part is where you are going to get a lot of rear end for minimal money.
