You can keep the same domain name .com
As all you need to do is update the name server settings
in your domain settings.
You can access the new site via ip and a sqwiggle ~/blarblar.com
then when your done, update the name servers in your domain settings and everyone it looking at the same place
in 24hrs

I done it with a classic install, that had been converted
to threads. I backup the DB and imported into a new one.
Sorry rushing out, maybe others can help too.