Looking for experienced opinions on removing k-member.

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If you want to limit your time and effort, make it functional, not perfect. Only replace the hard stuff that is bad. Leave the rest alone.
I somewhat disagree with front end, simply because so much of it is a Chinese puzzle, AKA you have to take much of it apart to do some of it. I recommend you dig in and DO IT ALL if it is a situation of unknown past, unknown wear, you don't want to do a bunch of work and then HAVE to tear it apart later because it won't drive right or wears tires.

I'm 75, and IT IS a LOT of work. You think A bodies are bad, You try a Dana 60 (actually TWO) on a Ram 4x4

If you think this is a lot of hard work, scan through this. Now that I've done this, I cannot believe I ever started

https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/threads/the-dummy-and-the-diesel-the-grey-whale.524619/