Another firm vote for the Channel Mixer adjustment layer - one or more - and to advise you not to blow money on actions or plug ins that pretend to simulate a particular film.
As Daniel says, don't be afraid to lose contrast a little during the conversion process. Don't clip either highlights or shadows at that stage, only later with a Levels adjustment layer, when the clipping can easily be reversed.
I'd generally try to avoid blown highlights with b&w. Following on from what Daniel says about clipping blacks to anchor the image, the eye is drawn from the shadows and to the lightest parts of the image. If these are blown, it often detracts from the result.
John