Kevin, are you planing on on using the roll cage too or did that get removed when you cut it apart?
have any pics of whats left that you want to use?

I think putting the 53 cab and front end on should work out very well, we have about 4 40-46 cabs going on Dakota chassis and I'am told the 53's fit better than the 40's.
a small block will fit better but I think the 440 could be made to fit as well.
making cab and front end mounts is not to hard to do and making a bed and mounting fenders to fit the WB is pretty easy too.

heres a picture I found of a chopped one