Never done it, but I know someone has. I can only offer the short answer-cut all the brackets from the housing and weld a couple spring perches on for the leaf springs. Or, if you can find an 8" from a II, go that route. I think even the Maverick 8" fits without modification, but someone else will have to speak up for that. The 8" is plenty strong and there is still an aftermarket for them. If you are looking for gears on the cheap, you can try to find a V6 II- you might get lucky with 3.55 gears. That is how I stumbled onto mine.
I have done it in my not much to it if you can weld. I used new 3 inch leaf spring perches, a set of stump's traction bars. You do not have to shorten the 8.8 at all and parts are much easier to find. I can take some photos if you need them.