61 Champ engine swap info needed

l want to make a conversion from an ailing OHV 6 to either a Stude V8 OR a Chevy small block and make it as easy as possible. But l'm confused.

The truck has an o/d transmission with 6 bolts on the top plate (l understand that is the "good" one) and Dana 44 with 4:27 ratio.

To make it "easy", which is best - a Stude V8 (which years?) or a SBC (which years?)?

Chevy had a BW o/d tranny available '55-'62, so will a small block of that vintage just bolt up?

l've read that there was a bellhousing change in '63 and newer. So do '62 and older Stude V8's fit my tranny, but not newer ones?

What other pitfalls am l about to get into?

l'm not doing this myself - hiring it out to a younger son of a club member who has extensive Stude AND street rod experience. And l want to install a new wiring harness at the same time.

Yipes! (Wish l could just bolt in a Stude 185, but that would do nothing for the resale of the truck).

Thanks , in advance, for your help!

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