The search for an 8.25"...can I make my 7.25" last in the mean time?

I think I know the answer to this...since I already broke the 7.25" once with my 318. :D I'm trying to move forward on my swap but I still haven't been able to find that elusive 8.25" axle!

Do you guys think that if I moved the weakest link down stream to some real "pizza cutter" 14" tires, I might be able to fend off the inevitabe destruction of the stock axle?

Better yet, is there any way to build a 7.25" to handle more power?

Thanks...
I'm getting to the point of looking into other vehicles that might serve as donors...perhaps a Dakota or a Cherokee?