8 3/4 question..please advise

As stroked 340 pointed out with proper prep and parts the rear will be fine. Good axles, studs and above all else a 742 or 489 case. It's not worth spending the money on the 741 case. Gear selection is limited and it is the weakest of the lot. The 742 case has the largest rear pinion bearing of any modern passenger car rearend and that's why Mopar used that case and gear set for their aluminum carrier. Good neoprene type pinion seals are hard to come by for them though. Leather ones are easily obtainable and work fairly well. There are billet bearing caps available for them as well as back braces. Spools also help with ring gear deflection but aren't practical for a street cruiser.

All of this assumes your car is an automatic equipped vehicle. If it's a stick car forget it and just get the Dana. You'll be hundreds of dollars ahead in the long run.