Your right on that aspect of it. It is tempting to use the stock frame. But I have to add up the time factor and the micro engineering to accomplish my punch list.

That is: Rack n Pinion Steering, Preservation of complete interior items including dash and steering column and wheel, disks at all corners, articulate suspension components, modern overdrive transmission and modern electronic fuel injected power.

It would appear that by taking the most durable modern donor that already accommodates my punch list, then applying where needed the attention to details needed to make things all work together would be the least painful way to go.

Otherwise, the project could resemble a house remodel gone wrong. The more you dig into it the more you have to reinvent the wheel. Ultimately in the end do you end up with what you wanted from the beginning. A classic modern mod. - Just my thoughts here.

Dave