Gears & Axles - An all inclusive sticky on 8.8 installs?

I have been reading through some of the installs guys have done with an 8.8. Some impressive work overall. I am thinking this may be the route I take as I have the tools and metal working skills necessary to do this build. I was thinking a sticky answering all of the questions that come up based on the builds everyone has done would be great.

My intentions are to build a rear axle to support 450ish hp serving mostly street duty with occasional strip use. What is the cheapest/easiest I can build an axle for?

My other question is why does everyone use an 8.8 over a 9"? I thought 9" was the end-all-be-all axle. What are the benefits of the 8.8 vs. the 9"?

8.8 weighs less
Has less rolling resistance than a 9"
Better factory brakes
Comes with a better veriety and more common gear ratios such as 3.27,3.55,3.73,4.10

If you're going to race it, do the 9" housing ends right away. They make them that use the stock brake pattern

I have been reading through some of the installs guys have done with an 8.8. Some impressive work overall. I am thinking this may be the route I take as I have the tools and metal working skills necessary to do this build. I was thinking a sticky answering all of the questions that come up based on the builds everyone has done would be great.

My intentions are to build a rear axle to support 450ish hp serving mostly street duty with occasional strip use. What is the cheapest/easiest I can build an axle for?

My other question is why does everyone use an 8.8 over a 9"? I thought 9" was the end-all-be-all axle. What are the benefits of the 8.8 vs. the 9"?

fords 8.8" rear will handle at least 80% of what a 9" will handle, while weighing less, creating less rolling resistance, being easier to work on. you just can't go wrong with the 8.8. keep in mind that you will want to use a 31 spline minimum.

Second what reinhardt02 said and add the 9" is quite a bit taller and the gearsets available are all aftermarket which means they are harder and more succeptable to gear whine. Albeit they are stronger.

Sorry meant to agree with 1ltcap

My buddy is using the 8.8 that came in his fox, with 9 inch ends, with an small block
Chevy and he's deep In the 8s. Im sure an 8.8 could handle whatever you throw at it.