I totally agree with the idea of building your car the way you want it. Obviously mine is far from stock, even though I got tons of advice that was pushing me towards a more stock look. I do realise the stock look makes a car more saleable if you decide to sell it later, but that's never going to happen, so I did mine to my liking.
My only concern with such a radical change is not whether someone wont like it. My concern is purely cost. Most of us are on limited budgets for these builds, and the cheaper we can do it, the more we can do! I wont cut corners on things that count, but when it comes to buying another car that is cheaper than rebuilding a newer one to look like it, then I'd always go with the less expensive option. As far as making a early 2nd gen out of a late 2nd gen, I've got no problem with that, if you've got the time and money.

 

My middle name is "Limited Budget" And I think I Lost that train of thought already Been thinkin hard of a tilt front end ,got Hydraulics out in the shop that will work good for that , been working on a dash since I need to re-wire anyway oh well just 1 of the many projects to fill the time after working 56-80 hrs a week will let yall know what happens with it

 

that's gonna look stupid.

 

With a tilt frontend you'll need to decide if you get really complicated and make it tilt forward before it goes up, or cut the frontend so the bottom rear of the fenders stay in plce when the rest tilts forward.
I have a friend with a '71 that made his steel frontend tilt by welding it all together, and he found it wouldn't clear the doors when it tilted, so he had to split the fenders at the body line on the side, then it would tilt fine.

 

WOW!! A Psychic, Whats the winning lottery numbers gonna be ??

BTW I'm gonna split the fenders down the bodyline to about 2in from the wheelwell then 45 down to it to prevent sharp points, Boy I hope I dont make make My $600 Car look stupid WOW I am starting to care what mrbobby thinks ,,,, Nope Sorry It was just Gas!!

 

It would be much cheaper for you to start with a 1970. They are a nicer car,but having the both of them in one car,..not sure how people would react as there are some of them who like both 1970 and 1980,.some like the 80 better and some like the 70 better. I have a 1980 with 53000KMS original on it,.no rust and then i did a 500+ horse small block with out nitrous. I am looking for a 1970 R/S S/S if there is anyone out there that they are wanting to part with. But back to your question on how to change the front end,..get ready for the money to be spent my freind,.cause it will cost you alot by the time you are done,..but i always say if thats what you want to do,.don't let no one tell you that it can't be done,.cause it can,..and if thats your dream of building one that way,..then do it,.after all it is your car,.. Look for a donar car though,.probably cheaper than buying all the parts to change it.