I have some suggestions that some may not like but I assure you they make sense.
First if you have the unit bearing style full time front end a great update to that front end is to get 3/4 ton Chevy part time knuckles out including the outer stub shaft and hubs at a salvage yard. Why not dodge stuff more difficult to locate around here,more expensive and the brakes have worked better in my experiances. Also the tie rod.
Second get a newer transmission and tranfercase 84 and later had a lower first gear. The 208 transfercase is pond to pound as strong as a 205 tcase. Yes the 205 has nearly a hundred ponds on the 205. The 203 can be made part time but is still chain driven, as is the 208 but the 203 is more than a hundred ponds heavier.
And finally you will need at the very least a rear drive shaft reguardless of what changes you make because automatic and manual uses different lengths on the rear for sure.