Well Wayne that is a can of worms on this site. Alot of guys here will steer you to keep it stock. Im building a 57 and have a 70 Nova front end on my truck and a 70 nova rearend in back. Im putting in a LT-4 corvette engine and 4L60E four speed auto. Im also putting in air conditioning etc. I bought it with the front clip installed and staying with it. If I had a stock front end originally I would of gone with the mustang II. Its fits right in between your stock rails and you dont have to change bumper and radiator cross member mount points. You loose all those mounts when you cut off your stock front end. Yes I would change the rearend and update it. It will handle more power from your engine and have a better ratio. That is if you arent worrying about not being box stock. Yes a Mustang front end will ride and stop better than any lowered stock 52 front end. It all depends what direction you want to go in. Im told you can get a decent ride out of a stock front end with lowered leafs and disk brakes. I went the modified route cuz my truck was already modified original engine, trans missing and it had a modern front clip and rearend installed. If I wanted to do a bone stock truck which I intend on doing in the future then I will buy one complete and original. Its your truck build it as you like. Good luck!
