Sterling swap in for 8.8?

im new to this site but i have some questions i am hoping you guys can help me out with.  i will start out by telling you what i drive and my plans for it.  It is a 1997 f150 4x4 with the 4.6 in it on 38" super swampers.  right now i have the stock 8.8 axle with the stock gears.  i obviously need to get new gears and a bigger axle would be a plus so i figured doing it once is the best way to go.  so i figured i would go all the way to the sterling axles.  i am really a "beginner" when it comes to axles and drive shafts etc..  so what would consist of swaping in the sterling 10.5 or 10.25 in place of the 8.8?  is there a kit for this?  

any help or suggestions you guys have is greatly appreciated.  like i said i dont know much about axles but i am trying to learn as much as i can and see if i can get this swap done.  Thanks  

any body?  

this should be an easy swap.....as long as the spring perches for the leaf springs are in the correct places it will bolt up...if not all you have to do is measure the correct length and relocate the spring perches on the sterling to fit your truck..you might need a combo u joint if you want to use your stock driveshaft, if not you can have a shop cut off the f150 end of the shaft and weld on an end from an f250 so you can use the bigger u joint the sterling axles uses..  
solid axle chevys cant be beat
78 K5: 350 V8,700r4,np208, 8 lug D44 4:88, 14 bolt 10.5 4:88 with detroit locker and 35 inc parenelli jones dirt grip tires

so the only thing that wont "fit" would be the spring perches and the U joint?  that should be easy enough for me to do.  where would i get the u joint?  4wp?  

For what it is worth, a 8.8 is not really a weak axle (it is stronger than a 10 bolt GM) and if you do not lock it it should live a long time with 38's plus you could install stronger axle shafts too. If you plan to go beyond 38's then do a axle swap.  

u joint from napa......  
solid axle chevys cant be beat
78 K5: 350 V8,700r4,np208, 8 lug D44 4:88, 14 bolt 10.5 4:88 with detroit locker and 35 inc parenelli jones dirt grip tires