Mine is doing fine. I only have the 3:42 gears with a posi. I took out the 12 Bolt with 4:11 gears, as I wanted it to be easier on the freeway.
The 8.5" is just a little weaker than the 12 Bolt, as the 12 Bolt is 8.875"
I know of guys running in the 10's and pulling the frontend off the ground with an 8.5"
I hear that the BOP rear is stronger than the Chevy 8.2", Also with the BOP rear you don't have to use the C-Clip eliminators
You should be just fine with your rearend, just put in a posi carrier and the gears you want to run, along with new bearings and seals.