Rear end advice for racing with a 4 speed

Even if you had $400 in your 8.8, it's still WAY cheaper than anything else with comparable strength and parts availability. A-body 8 3/4, Dana, nine, 12 bolt, probably all approaching or over $2000.
I bought an aluminum center for my nine inch, with a spool (lighter and cheaper than a lsd) and even on a 40% or more off black friday sale, it ran a bit over $600 (and that was cheap!).
Good axles, aftermarket discs, braced housing, I doubt very much I would take $1500 for my rearend.