Where do I start?

[resin addict]

Hi folks,
I need some advice.
I just bought a '59 Chevy Apache that I'd like to do a mild custom on.
It's a stepside with a 283 automatic that runs great.
What I'd like to get done are the following, however, since this is all new to me, I have no idea what the most efficient order of attack is.
By the way, when I say "I" I mean my mechanic, I'm somewhat mechanically inclined, but I'm planning on leaving the important work up to the experts...my brother-in-law is a mechanic who manages a shop, and I'm partners in another business venture with my best friend who owns and operates a body shop.
I want to put a new IFS on it with power steering.
Possibly disk brakes (is this part of the new front end?).
I want a new tilt steering column with shifter (currently a floor shifter).
I'd like it dropped 4 to 6 inches; looking for advice here, I like the lowered look but also want something that's still practical to drive. I've seen ads in the magazines for hub to hub IFS's that claim to drop 5" will this work, or is there a better way?
Finally, I want to change the color. Currently it's kind of robins egg blue (I believe this was a factory color) with a white top and sun visor (blue painted interior), and I want to go with bright fire engine red inside and out.
This truck is in great condition, body is solid w/o any rust, and the only evidence of any previous body work is the drivers door panel has some filler in it. Floorboards are solid, and the frame is straight (amazing for a truck that old in Michigan)
I bought it about 60 miles north of where I live, and drove it home after having a shop check it out, and it was nice and smooth, even at 70 mph.
Like I said in the beginning, I know what I want to have done, but don't know where to start, and don't want to waste any effort by doing one project and then having to re-do it because of the next thing.

Thanks for any help or advice you can give and I look forward to spending a lot of time here.

Randy