Rear end housing width question

66 A body. Mini tubbed and spring relocate QA1 coil over rear suspension

It seems I can just about buy all new 9” Ford for the cost 8 3/4 and rebuild. But either way I go, should the rear end be left at 52 or go narrower?

Buy wheel tire combo first and decide from there?

Never done this before so thanks for experience.
The reason for narrowing the rear-end is so you dont have a huge offset wheel if you want to take advantage of the width of your new found space.