Awesome project. I've seen pictures of your truck before, but I'd like to see some more as you're fixing it up.
The old diesels are great. If I didn't absolutely need a crew cab for my big, old dogs that we take everywhere, your exact truck would be at the top of my list. My old crew cab 7.3 F350 will have to get me by until I have the time to find one of those super rare 1st gen Dodge crew cabs to fix up, repaint white, and Cummins swap. There is actually a few of them around my area, all faded blue, which leads me to believe they are ex-USAF rigs sold off from nearby Beale AFB.
You're right about the newer diesels, I also have a new MegaCab Cummins. It has none of the character and much much more to fail than the old trucks. Nice rig, tows great, just nothing like the old rigs. I'd camp out at the dealer to buy a simple bare bones mechanical diesel truck with crank windows, vinyl floors and manual locks, lots of us would, but emissions regs will never let it happen. So good choice refurbishing what you have.