Is an 8 1/4", 2.45:1 diff housing exclusive?

YY1 said

What I'm talking about is using an M (or F) body housing (again, I still see several of these every year), and a 1996 or earlier Dakota carrier and 3.55 gear set (I still see several of there yearly as well, but have not verified gears), retaining the 27 spline M body axle shafts.

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In a lot of ways, that's what I did. Just didn't have to swap the gears, but I did put in a different carrier with a sure grip.

I just realized I am kind of approaching the question from the wrong angle. I have been thinking about ultimate strength/cost and ignoring the question of application.

In light of that, I think an 8.25" axle is a great solution. For someone not planning on run slicks and trying to lift the front tires, it's hard to beat. And even for a drag car, it is probably fine to a point. But I think someone that is looking at building a drag car has a different application and changes the question to more along the line I was thinking initially.

Honestly, I have never had an overly powerful A-Body, but all I have ever run is 8.25" axles and the only one I ever broke was the one I set up and then did a burn out with after putting a mile on it. Could have been I jacked up the pinion bearing when I was setting it up, or that I didn't break it in, but all it needed was a new inner pinion bearing to be good again. I wouldn't even hesitate to run one with a BB assuming it was a mild one.

Just my opinions.