from everything that i have read an 8.8 is about the best route. they are easy to find, stronger than a dana 44, good ground clearance, lots of parts, cheap, come with discs, and you dont have to narrow them.
now for the bad.
you need to weld the tubes to the center section, witch is easy to fix, the cover is thin, again easy to fix, the carrier is weak, and if you are planing on a locker that will replace the carrier. so you will be good to go!