Here's my list of what I would do, by the way, none of which would change the looks of your truck.
I would go to an open drive line with a 3:55 to 1 ratio, or close to it, and a T-5 transmission which will allow you to drive with anyone else on the road with it's 5th gear overdrive. I would also go with the radial tires and I would poly line all four of your under carriage springs, for better spring response, also go to modern day shocks and go to a 41-46 steering box, which is a bolt in. It is a recirculating ball steering box and will better help the steering, especially with the radials. You will have to pull the outer column off of the stering wheel shaft to cut it and weld the top part of your 38 shaft onto the bottom of the 41-46 shaft to use you 38 steering wheel on the top portion. Your steering wheel won't fit on the 41-46 shaft.
All of these items work very well to make a truck like yours much more easy to drive and more trustworthy. And no can tell.
There are some other things you can do for safety and convience in case you breakdown. Newer parts are easier to get.
