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8.25 has a 3" diameter axle housing so you'll need the right u-bolts and either slot the shock mounts or replace with new ones for the 8.25/8.75 axles

Have you considered upgrading to an 8.25 or 8 3/4? 8.25 is plenty strong enough for most mild street motors up to 400hp and parts are readily available at parts stores as well as salvage.

My 2003 2wd dakota with 3.9 uses a nv3500. That is factory. They quit using the ax15 sometime in the mid to late 90's. I just changed the clutch in mine at the beginning of the year, yes my trans is a one piece, not a two piece with removable bell housing.

Nv3500 is a good trans. Low first and 2nd gear to get it going. Top loader style, no rods to adjust. Make it fit and have a tough smooth shifting trans. With a 26" tire and that trans you could run a 2.76 gear easy, or 29" tire with 3.23 which is factory in my 3.9 dakota. 1900 rpm @ 70 and...

If possible, find a wrecked but running dakota. Take everything, fuel injection, wire harness, computer, fuel pump. It will run so much better, power and economy with factory fuel injection. If you find a dakota with a manual, take the master cylinder with it.

Bobscuda67, interesting on the frequency of timing chains before 100,000. The original on mine I changed at 175,000. The second one the new tensioner failed and the top of it slid off it's tab pushing the new chain against the oil drip tab. Replaced that set and it happened again after 1000...

Try to find a decent low mileage dakota. Change the timing chain and if a manual the clutch while out of the vehicle. I bought my 2003 new, 288,000 miles and still 20 mpg. Have to keep an eye on the oil consumption but that 3.9 is a great motor

Get a nv3500 5 spd to go with it. Late 90's to 2003 dakota. Low 1st gear, pulls my 2003 3800 lb dakota with 29" tires and 3.23 gears all day. 20mpg at 70 at 1900 rpm. Would love to see what that would do in a lighter A model with shorter tire

And expensive. Those competitors in that class have to sink quite a bit of money to run like that and have factory appearing equipment. Doable of course, but pricey

Look into headers for the early A's, they do exist and will compliment any improvements to your motor. Search for the 318 and 273 combos only thread in the small block thread forum. Lots of posts in that thread and quite a few members with early A's in that thread. Look at their posts for a...

How large are the outlets to the manifolds you have? Can they be opened up a little? A 2"-2.25" dual would still let your motor rev provided the rest of the combination is set up for it. 12's in the 1/4 may not be realistic but 13's is still lots of fun and very respectable for a street car...

Might look into magnum manifolds from the salvage yard. Flow better than the original manifolds with larger outlet. A 2.5" dual exhaust would let your motor breath well