8.25 to 8-3/4 or nah!??

Pretty sure that's for an 8.8, technically don't think you'd have to for a 44a. But you'd have to add perches to go leaf, and if swapping from a 7.25 couldn't reuse them.

Yep, I was thinking of the 8.8 ford.
The Dana 44 out a of a Grand Cherokee can be used as is with some different backspacing.
Well, there is also the mods to it for leafs and the driveline length to deal with.