Front end rebuild....buy new or rebuild?

If you're going to keep the stock brakes, I'd stay with the stock control arms too. Rebuilding them isn't all that bad if you have the proper tools. These days, buying the tools, even if you only use them once, is probably cheaper than paying to have it done. There are bushing and ball joint removal/installing tools available as a kit or individually. You mainly need an upper ball joint socket. A 1 3/8" tap would make the lower bushing shell easier to remove, but, if you're careful, and hack saw blade and small chisel works too. A press or good sized vice is needed for installing the new bushings.