Welcome to the forum, and to a group of folks doing all we can to make it better. I lost my wife 7 years ago to Cancer and it was actually her idea to build our '41 F#rd pickup and drive it and display it with the exact intentions you describe. Here are a couple shots of the F#rd:
Based on having done this for a long time, my suggestions may not match up with some others here, but I would look at building it with an inline 6 like the 250 many of the trucks were born with. I would also run it carburated instead of fuel injected again for simplicity and cost.
Good luck with your build, and very sorry for your loss.