I did it. I finally decided on the Mustang II front end from Fatman.
I ordered it Wednesday and am expecting it to arrive in two weeks from today.
I already started cleaning up the garage so I can get started.
I have full intentions of detailing the entire installation from start to finish on my FTE webpage so stay tuned for updates!

 

Krosati, Did you do any comparison cost analysis/time to complete using Fat Man verses a GM/Ford clip? I look at a lot of front suspension conversions and the Fat Man seems a little light for a truck. I see dozens of them in a typical year though. I guess they are fairly simple to install. It just always seemed to me that a GM clip would be a good install for our old Fords. We will really appreciate updates on this project as you go along.
William in Atlanta

 

I decided on the Fatman kit for the simplicity in the hub to hub kit. I pay one price for the complete front end minus the booster and master cylinder and the steering pump. They seem to have designed a well thought out kit and I don't have to hunt salvage yards for the right donor, replace worn parts, and try to determin where to cut and splice. The kit allows me to have a neat install using the engine of choice.

I was suprised to find it on my door step when I came home today! There were 8 packages each packed neatly and the parts look great.
I will be taking those pictures and placing them on my FTE website. I think I'll also submit the article to Ken!

 

I was thinking about using the Fat man mustang 2 but read that it was light duty and not a good match for our trucks. I read that the dakota front end member that are coming out now are heavier duty and fit our trucks better.

 

Define light duty.
If it will hold up the engine and keeps the wheels pointed in the direction you want to go then it should be sturdy enough to mount in a 4000 lb truck. When thinking about the design in the 61-64 factory front ends, the only thing holding your axle to the truck is the front shackles and the spring perch. There is no support to keep the axle in line lateraly and relies in the upswept ends of the axle beam and a couple of u-bolts to keep the caster in check.
With the MII front end, I'll be adding a solid crossmember to keep the frame rails straight and coil springs to each wheel. Not only giving a tunable ride but a more reliable and PROVEN front end. I can change spring rates, caliper size, rotor size as well as adjust caster and camber alot easier then the solid axle.

Just my opinion but I think the MII front ends have stood the test of time and the Dakota setup is based on on MII design just beefed up more. Looking at the pic of it in Classic Trucks, it just seems to be too heavy for a daily driven truck. Besides, they are too new on the market to really have any defininative data to say they are better or last longer yet.