The time to get back on the beast and finish it is approaching.
I had a thought the other day (boy do these get me in trouble), and did a bit of searching.
This is never going to be a serious off road vehicle. It's more of a driver, light off road, trails and fields at worst. So...
How bout a frame swap? Specifically, how about a 4th Gen Ford Explorer frame?
They seem to be pretty rugged, would offer great handling as well as competent off roading capability. Certainly it would be a mudder or a rock crawler, but that's not the sort of thing I'm ever going to do.
I found a photo of a Wagoneer with what looks to be a 3rd Gen Explorer frame, and it seems to work well.
In proper AMC form, it will be a crazy mishmash of parts (GM engine and transmission, Ford frame and suspension, etc).
This is the Waggoneer with the frame swap.