I have a '57 2dr wagon that's mostly stock and a '55 2dr post with new everything that I just put on the road so I can compare the two.

The first thing I would do is go for a polygraphite front rebuild and a sway bar. The aftermarket is flooded with front end parts so clips and subframes are really no longer necessary. I would go to a rack and pinion steering system instead of wasting time and money on a bulky 605 conversion. drop spindles, airbags, coilovers, tubular a-arms...sky's the limit. The '56 2dr wagon is my favorite of the 3 years. Congrats on your find.