Been reading your thread, awesome deal on the trucks! Good to see you making progress. I have that same welder you were talking about from harbor freight. works good, but i've not used it for anything but tacking in panels and exhaust, don't think they're made to do heavy stuff like a frame.
I feel you on the working outside, i'm a shade tree mechanic myself!
Post us some pics of the completed engine in the truck when you get it in!