glad you get to keep your 55, that's a great looking truck... I like the little black trimline around the bottom, I might have to borrow that idea
i'm just starting one VERY similar, I hope mine turns out to ride as smooth as you describe yours. I've been keeping an eye out for an early 90's GM 6.5 TD chassis for sliding under mine, but in the meantime, I just came across a really clean, cheap '76 pig with a great frame, crate 350, turbo400 auto, PS, discs, and pretty nice interior...so, my rustfree '70 body is getting a swap that sounds somewhat similar to yours for now (I'm definitely switching to the '76 hood too!)
I'll try to do my part and keep a decent thread going on here with some good pics