When should you brace an 8 3/4 housing?

Well hells bells I read it wrong! I thought the bottom sentence said he was going to run slicks.... He'll be fine...
The many that have gone 11s for years were they 4-speeds?...
the ones that I know of are automatics. Actually, now that I think of it, I don't think I know anyone in person that has a 4 speed mopar that's a drag car...