George,
Sounds like a great plan -- but finding the 9-foot bed is going to be a little challenging. It can be done, though. The bed sides are one thing, but the curved bed to running board panels and the running boards will be a trick. My running boards came from a guy at Carlisle who didn't know what they were and the same for the curved panels (but from a yard in Arizona).
The hunt is on! If anyone can find them, you can. Best to know the measurements and take your tape measure with you when you go to the big swap meets as the 3/4-ton pieces look close (but they're shorter). I can measure mine if you want me to.
Why not leave it a dually? That would look cool -- lots of 4-wheel drive P/U conversions around. a big dually would be different. Or do you want to put super singles on it?
S/F
John
