Hmmm, what to do with my truck...

So my 84 D150 has slowly degraded to the point of needing several major repairs. I am mulling around some ideas of what to do with it since I can't spend the money right now. It is a 318/727/9 1/4 with a suregrip and 3.23's. 318 is pretty much stock with the exception of an Edelbrock dual plane intake (can't remember the model offhand), and a 650cfm Holly vac sec carb. The problems are as follows:

1. Front pump seal on the 727 is shot, looks like a murder scene where ever I park it (I can still use it, just have to keep it topped off with fluid).
2. It is overcharging (15.6 volts at idle, pretty sure this is the contacts being corroded on the firewall bulkhead, I have fixed this before on an old Ram Charger I used to have).
3. Off idle performance has a nasty hesitation (kind of want to do Fitech fuel injection anyway).
4. Roof is rusty (found a local painter, I am lazy and will probably have them paint it)
5. Rear drums are wasted, front rotors are warped beyond belief and need replacing.
6. Cracked exhaust manifold pumping exhaust into the engine bay.
7. Heads likely shot because it puffs blue smoke pretty hard for the first 30 seconds of running after it has been sitting, I replaced the valve seals a few years back and it didn't solve this.

My Wife says I should just sell it then get another truck, but I have had it for 18 years and it is a straight old Dodge (rare around here) that I like despite it being a LWB (always wanted a SWB). My main concern is what to do with the engine. I *think* the bottom end of the 318 is fine, since I need to replace the manifolds I wanted to do headers, however, these old garbage smog heads have the small holes for the manifolds under the exhaust ports. Not a huge deal since the heads are garbage anyway (plus old open chamber design, yuk). Not sure what the results would be, but I'd like to put a set of stock Edelbrock heads on it to see how it would react (leaving the stock cam though) for giggles. Eventually I can pull the 727 out of my Dart and put it in the truck since it is a good transmission and I want to put a stick in the Dart.

Other option is, I have a 440, a 400, and a 383 big blocks sitting in my shop. The 440 is so rusted out it needs 7 sleeves (no joke), the 400 is an old early block with the thick castings so it would be good for a 451 base (way too much motor for a truck, and kind of a waste IMO). The 383 was a running motor I bought years ago that came with some 906 heads, but ran like a dog. Turns out it had over a 20% variance in pressure across the cylinders, so it needs a rebuild. Out of the three I am considering the 383 for the truck, I would put aluminum heads on it for weight and the extra hp they will bring.

However, I don't have a BB 727 case at my disposal. None of our yards around here have anything remotely old, and the one place that did closed up a few years ago. Plus none of my accessories will fit (PS, A/C compressor, etc).

318 with aluminum heads:

Pros: Can likely fix this all on my own, no machine shop needed, cheaper, more transmission options on hand.

Cons: It'll most likely be super weak because of being a 318 and having a stock cam

383

Pros: Pfft, big block, gonna make probably double of the 318, finally put one of these BBC's to use.

Cons: Cost, more down time for the truck, have to sort the aux stuff (trans, acces. brackets, etc).

I use the truck for work around my property mostly, and hauling parts for my other projects. I'd like to give it a good go and put it back into service for a few years. I really like driving the truck as it is comfy and unique around here since everyone rolls coal in duallys/bro trucks.

I suppose my main question amidst all this rambling is would the stock short block on the 318 be any fun with the Edelbrock heads?