Ford 8.8" Rear... Should I do it?

I would have just added the ends to the axle tubes... AFTER you welded the perches and anything else on..... When welding to tubes they move and now that you made your modification from the middle the ends are on it and now you have to add more items and weld on that tube again...

I have fixed many a rear from people doing that and have to cut the ends and re-align the ends to they aren't off from distortion, in fact i just did another yesterday and this car was so off i told him he should see 2 tenths at the very least.

Always do the ends last and on a jig not off the tube, as the tube inner may not be on the same diameter the inside dimension is and that will put the bearing off a degree or more from the carrier.

.