new 1968 A108... need some advice!!

HI All, I am new to this forum, and need some direction on a 1968 Dodge A108 I just bought. pretty straight body, but LOTS of rust on the drip rails.. pretty much the whole perimeter of the car needs to be replaced. and the tops of the windshield pillars needs replacing as well. I believe the original motor was the 318, with an automatic transmission. someone has taken all that out, so that's where you guys come in... I am looking around on craigslist to find a replacement motor, and seing a lot of the 440 motors for slae with the 727 transmissions for cheap. I think what people do is pull them out of motorhomes.. my plan is to turn this thing into a surf cruiser. going to build some roof racks, lower the front and rear, and maybe install some type of sunroof on top. kinda replicate an old VW bus.. I know 440 is a large motor, but will this work? is it a pain to GET it to work? I am also missing the dash shifter, seats, headlight bezels. I WILL thell you this though... it is damn hard to find donor vehicles or any replacement parts for that matter!! Does anyone know where to find the things I need? any help is appreciated, as I am very new to the vintage vans... thanks in Advance everyone!

looks like someone made a cooling tunnel in the floor board..that should help cool a 440...

yeah? I have no knowledge of these vans whatsoever... I do like them though!! if anyone has any experience with this swap please chime in... I found a 440 with trans for 450 bucks. running out of a 77 motorhome with 56k miles. just don't want a HUGE headache if there is a ton of cutting and welding/fabwork involved.. and if ANYONE has advice on the shifter, seats, and bezels, please let me know. thanks! I seriously cannot find any replacement parts shop online.. was it because they didn't make that many of these vans? or was it they are not that much of a following to repop anything?

i bought a a100 that had a 440 in it. do you still have questions. sorry late to the party