Lost on what to do with rear end - trying to swap

[siggyfreud]

Hey all,

Been doing some searching and reading on swapping rear ends. I'm a bit lost on what I'd need to do, and the parts (trailing arms, perches, etc.)

Currently my 66 GMC has a Dana 60 8-lug rear with leafs. Not sure what it's from. From my reading, swapping it over to a 5-lug disc is more pain than just finding something already 5-lug from a later year.

I understand that the later model (like 72+) rears are wider and will require different back spacing.

Does anyone know if the later model rears with leafs will bolt right into the 66 perches. And what are the trailing arms and how do they mount? My 66 doesn't have anything other than the rear end, leafs, and shackles holding it together.

OR . . . Is this an opportunity to switch over to coil springs, and if so, is there much benefit. I see that CPP offers some coil spring kits and trailing arm kits, and just curious what the process would be to convert and the benefits.

In any case, if anyone has some direction on what rear end I should be sourcing, and the best approach for getting it in, I'd be very thankful. A lot of searches yield 6-lug to 5-lug swaps, or discuss options using the factory 12-bolt.

Thanks all!