If your looking for a change..just do a 9".
Parts are plentiful and they can be built light and strong.

Back in '96 I was doing all the stuff on a competitive comp eliminator car when the drop out 12 bolt centers sections for the 9" fords were introduced by strange. We built one and plugged it in only to be disappointed with absolutely no change anywhere in performance.....only a big dent in the budget. So fwiw....there you go.