Reading back through the thread I realize earlier beliefs that I have "plenty of time" before my son, Travis, turns 16 have not aged well as he is now 14 and the truck is no closer to running than when I had "plenty of time"!
Small updates on "recent" progress:
My comment about the pain of messing with Chinese cab supports exciting me to install rockers was misplaced... I had to section out the rockers just slightly less than I did the cab supports! That said, the passenger side is in and the door gaps look great!