Drop the whole front bumper, weld up the two holes and you have a smooth front end.
Might get away with doing the rear the same way.
The rear should have the tapered rear axle shafts dont throw to much HP at it.
i bought an original 1956 U.S Post Office parts list book . in there it says that the rear gear ratio is 4:78 to 1 . i think i'm going to swap the rear with something thats not so low .