54 1 ton flatbed...looking for ideas

[rcbildr]

This last week I did a trade with my girlfriend/fiancee..her 54 1 ton flatbed farm truck for my 85 diesel suburban. She definitely made out on the deal, but I really wanted the 54 and was ready to move on...all in all everyone is happy. She's been talking on and off about maybe getting rid of the truck, but I've always wanted a truck from that era and this one has spent it's whole life on the road I l live on. I think it would be a cool truck to have even though it needs a ton of work. My goal right now is to get it running and driving...then restore it later on.

First the plan was when we restore it was to give the truck a modern drivetrain, but now I'm thinking about keeping it close to stock. I'm not sure if I want to do that because I'm thinking (for now) of building the truck to be a tow rig/hauler. Has anyone stuffed a small block in one of these and kept the stock frame? I did a search and all I've come across are trucks that have been subframed. I'm wanting to drop in a 350/th-400 and swap out the rear with a slightly newer dualley rear end...but I haven't really found any info on that. Has anyone doen this? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!