73~76 brakes upfront, manual master if you're agreeable to it, if not a 73~76 booster set up.
out back is where you're gonna spend the real money. you're not making gobs of power but 7.25 parts are swiftly drying up and even in low power applications the gears are a ticking time bomb.
the good news is that you don't need discs unless you want them.
8.25 would be a bolt in if you can find one.
8.75 is also a bolt in, and if $$ doesn't matter then this is the obvious answer.
from there ford 8.8 out of an early ranger will fit, not break the bank, and takes limited work to get it in there. fairly easy to find. (edit: with careful selection of rims, the ranger rear is a little wider and the slab sides of the val are a limiting factor)
8.8 out of an explorer if you want discs.
9" ford if you want to spec one out from speedway and just press the easy button.
14's will fit any of those set ups (save for maybe the explorer discs)
15's look great on the early bodies and open the door to more rim and tire choices.
i'd also recommend upgrading the rest while everything is apart: t-bars, rear springs, shocks.
i know that you said money is out of the equation, but if you were to boogie down do you have a ballpark of what your budget would be?