Sounds like you are on your way to some much needed repairs/maintenance as well as some great imorovements cool
I am going to heave grin to get to the leaf-spring bushings, upper and lower ball-joints, bearing repack, U-joint ot two as well as a few other things done on my `72. I have been running the tires off it and it is needing some TLC.
Too bad I am not closer or I would try to assist in your endeavors. Extra hands are always nice if they know what they are doing cool

There is enough good in the worst of us and enough bad in the best of us that it does not behoove any of us to criticize the rest of us.
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Be yourself. If you are ever lost, It will be much easier to find yourself if you know who you are!