well an 84 has got the straight axle right? so you came out better off any way 
not really,,,I think 3rd gen is by far the best way to go,,stronger frame,,and FI..yea it needs a sas but whoopie..I think that is far less work then beefing up the front hanger mounts and doing the swap to fi..If I was to do it over again I would go that route fo sho..
