Don't be afraid of the straight axle front end!!! But, make sure that the kingpins, shocks, tires are balanced, and the usual front end stuff is OK.
You should probably change the front wheel bearings to rollers which take side loads better, but this is more a safety issue rather than a performance issue, but should be done.
I did all the previously mentioned stuff to my '52 1/2 ton original front, and I can cruise all day @ 70 without shake, shimmy, and/or white knuckles - and the highway ride is a smoooth at my 300M. Off the smooth pavement it rides like a '52 1/2 ton with an original front end as expected.
Your biggest obstacle to cruising @ 50 is the low gearing of the rearend to keep the engine from winding up too tight as was previously pointed out in an earlier post.
The '52 has the driveline from a '77 Blazer with higher rearend gearing which allows it to run at highway speeds.
I will continue to spend my money now on other restoration items, but an IFS is way on the back burner because the original is working just fine.
'52 Ted
