For road setups, Shimano didn't change pull ratio for years. The only exception to that rule was for Dura Ace 7400, so if you don't have one of those rear mechs, you should be good to go for 8-speed.
Cheap way: (8 of 9 setup)
1) Get a new back rim, new spokes and nipples (preferably butted) some Shimano SL-BS64 bar end shifters and down tube cable mounts, a new KMC or FSA 9-speed chain, and a new Shimano nine-speed cassette.
2) Disassemble the old rear wheel and discard the old rim & spokes.
3) Have the rear wheel built back up with the new spokes and rim.
4) Install the new 9-speed cassette, minus the second outside cog.
5) Install the bar-end shifters and the cable stops, along with new cables.
6) Adjust the rear derailleur stops so that the sweep is across the new rear cassette.
7) Test and adjust as required.
Another option, for the brifter-inclined and well-heeled/well-versed at horse-trading:
1) Get a new back rim, new spokes and nipples (preferably butted), some Campagnolo 8-speed Ergopower shifters, down-tube cable stops, a Campagnolo 8-speed rear derailleur (front may be optional), a 8/9 speed Shimano freehub body, and one additional Shimano 7-speed cog and spacer. The cog should be one to three teeth bigger than the biggest cog on the current (HG) cassette.
2) Remove the old freehub body from the bent rear wheel. Replace with the 8/9 speed freewheel.
3) Disassemble the old rear wheel and discard the old rim & spokes.
4) Have the rear wheel built back up with the new spokes and rim. Preferably, the interlace pattern for the drive side should be second-crossing, as this will ensure a low profile for the cassette setup you will be using.
5) Install the new cog and spacer onto the freehub body, then the cassette. Tighten as required. Spacing should be perfect for Ergopower 8 and will be much improved, as you will be using Shimano HG-profiled cogs. IG-profile will likely work, but not as well.
6) Reinstall the rim strip and tire.
7) Mount the new brifters and derailleur(s), along with fresh cables.
8) Install refurbished rear wheel. This may take some stretching of the drop-outs if the spacing is 126mm.