I am happy to report that with the shiny new wheel simulators the truck gets better mileage, burns less oil, hauls more weight, and even some of the hail dents popped out.
Not really, but it's definitely earning it's keep like I hoped it would. I still have a long way to go before it's fixed up nice enough to please me but the truck has good bones underneath it so it's just a matter of continuing to plug away at it till it's real solid and slick.
Other than the bellhousing, I'm thinking I'll try to pick up a decent hood for the truck and shoot it white and stick it on there. The present hood has a crack in the front of it, is beat up, and obviously is paint challenged. I know the new painted hood won't match perfectly, but it can't look as bad at the hood on it now does.