Sounds like a cool ride in the making; have a buddy that's hot rodding a 50 F100 with a Explorer rear setup & 302 EFI AOD like you mention.
Keep us post; wish my skills where at that level.
My next buid is a 64 swb Customcab; only major retro; is the engine will be a 360 / C-6 combo. everything else oem bascially; will Redneck lower it as much as I can without any safety issues.

Mitch