Nice truck Partner! Just about a year ago I was in your same position, Listen to techinspector1, he has been the upmost helpful to me in my build. I wanted to put my truck on a new frame and do exactally what your talking about. Everyone told me to put a IFS on it and leave everything else alone. Looking back at all the issues I have had and all the added cost putting a whole new chassis under it, I would have come out leaps and bounds ahead with a IFS frontend and good 9" rear or whatever your choice of rear axle. These guys on here will steer you in the right direction becuase Im sure they have already done it:-) you can check out my build been over a year and just have it mechanically finished and have not even touched the cosmetics. Enjoy the build, thats a sweet truck!!!

Lance