Why not put the D60 in the back, and just swap the brakes and spindles to make your front D44 an 8 lug setup to match the 60. If you have the complete setup from the 78 you should have everything. I had a friend who had this setup in his 77 shortbox and it worked well. Drilling holes to mount leafs in the front sounds like more work than changing radius arm bushings. Put a cheap 3 or 4inch coil in the front if you wnat more hieght. The inverted T style steering found on the 78/79 F150 4x4 and Bronco is far better than the inverted Y you have now, and a way better design than the push-pull style that the 78/79 F250 4x4's had.