hey, is this a viable option for us 8.25" rear guys?

I agree with everyone else. Save your bucks and find a good 8 3/4 set up. It will be money much better spent. I just found a 489 case for 60 bucks, obviously no guts, but for the funds I've saved, I can build my own. I already have the 3.55 gears to go into her.