Since you are on a budget... Are you incapable due to you disability of putting/bolting this stuff together?
If you can bolt stuff together, here's what I would do.
I'd find someone that is selling a complete A body 8.75 with ANY case and good 3.23 gears, swap in the tru trac/carrier bearings, buy BBP axles and brakes. Sell the SBP axles and brakes and be in around $1500 before painting.
Those tru tracs are EXPENSIVE! Like $600ish last time I checked.[/QUOTE}
My problem is that I cannot lift and carry much heavy stuff, and rear axles certainly qualify. Working alone complicates things as well.
I had an empty A body 8.75" housing, but it was stolen from my yard. B*st*rd left the complete 9.75 axle right beside it.
I had planned out exactly what you said you would do, but the best I could do was $1,700 & no Truetrac. Might as well deal with the folks I've been asking about.
Yes, Truetracs are expensive, but with no clutches to wear out, and no special fluid to buy maybe not all that expensive.
I've even thought about going to an 8.25" axle. Either I'm not finding the right places to look for 'em, or they're as rare as 8.75s. The Truetracs for the smaller axles are about $200.00 cheaper, though.
Again. thanks for the input! Any further thoughts...send 'em to me.
ATB
BC