Scott, I bought a polygraphite front end rebuild kit from P-S-T almost a decade ago, and only just got around to installing it, and its mostly still like new, they make good products, I just hope they don't squeak! I have hope hearing about your Chevlle.
As far as doing the bushings and ball joints yourself, it really depends on how much money you feel like spending, or what tools you have. You can rent a ball-joint/u-joint tool kit from most parts stores that will actually make pretty quick work of everything save one bushing on each upper. You can use a hammer and angled chisel to beat out the the rest. That's what I did, but I'm poor and doing everything on the cheap lol.