Hardy,
You have to find a ballance of rod and old. I did my 53 5 window pickup with disc front brakes and dual master cylinder for safety, changed the rear end to a 3.55 from 4.11 for driveability and changed the seat for comfort. I then added fenton headers to the inline 6 with smitty mufflers. Offenhouser intake with dual carbs. This is the way they did it in the 50's. So now I have a nestalgic, original hot rod that can be converted. If you go to the car shows EVERYONE has a small block. How many ways can you do a 350? Go to the car shows and you will see.
I left the body in tact no chopping or buchering of any kind. Just a good paint job and a stright body.
Hope this didn't muddy the water for you.
