Fail Safe brand thermostats are supposed to fail in the open position, rather than the closed position. They cost about $20. I have read some reviews that this thermostat did not fail in the open position, but I put one in my BB 83 anyway.
For hoses, I would do some research on the internet. I think there may be some lifetime warranty hoses if you plan to keep the truck a long time. I would not go for the cheap hoses (like Dayco or Auto Zone store brand.) Cheap hoses are not very thick walled and tend to collapse a bit. I would check Rock Auto and see the variety of hoses they offer. On my luxury sedan (Cavalier
) I used only AC Delco hoses because they have complicated fittings integral to the hoses and are not easy to replace due to limited engine bay open space.