Drum brakes (installed correctly and maintained correctly) will stop you just fine. You do however need to realize the AD trucks were not built during a time when pickups ever drove 80+ mph...as people today have decided all pickups must be driven. As long as you respect the truck and the design of it, you'll be fine. Take your time, enjoy the drive and arrive alive. Your body may have rust, and that's normal. It can be fixed and fixed in such a way that it won't happen again. Very few of these which spent their lives outdoors don't have some body rust. Even here where we don't use salt on the roads you get rust over time...and these trucks are old now. Your frame will be fine I imagine. It would take a lot to rust it to the point of any concern. As for power for hills, you have plenty if the 235 is in good condition. If you're talking about steep mountains, you'll need to use 2nd gear, but guess what? A brand new Toyota with a V8 will also be downshifting. As for an S10, you need to only look at the 4 wheel drive models. The others are too narrow by about 2 inches or maybe a bit more to mate with and AD frame & body. If you want an S10, my sincere advice would be to get out there and look for a good one. But those are old now and you'll need to find one that was babied (meaning it will cost $$$) or it probably will have been run to absolute crap, the engine will be leaking (these had a problem with rear main seals), the transmission will need rebuilding (remember it will probably have 150,000+ miles now), it will need new idler arms and front end parts (I've been to this party many times when I owned one), the fuel injection will need repair (the spider will be shot and that's some work plus cost to replace...and you only get one chance to plug it in correctly or say bye-bye to a $300 part), the A/C will need service and the upholstery/interior? Forget it...it will need to be redone and most of it is plastic. If it was owned by a smoker or somebody who hauled their dog around all the time, it is going to smell rank in there and you may never get that smell out of it. The time to buy one of those was 20 years ago.
But the A/D is a great pickup and fortunately can be rebuilt/restored, saved and driven all over the place happily.
Here is a partial checklist I'd use for an A/D truck that's going to be a driver:
new leaf springs/shackles/shocks/u-bolts
new steering components and rebuild the steering box or at least remove, clean, inspect and adjust
new brakes...everything including lines, wheel bearings, etc...check or replace it all
engine...go through it or at least check compression, timing, ignition components...I'd replace with HEI and find a Carter carburetor made for the year of your engine. Say bye-bye to Mr. Rochester. If you rebuild the engine, find somebody who understands how to do it correctly...to the GM specs. Check the water pump. If unsure, buy a new one. Parts stores in small villages will not carry these. Fan belts...get new ones. Personally I would take off the fan (your pump will last longer and run quieter) and use an electric fan with shroud and thermostat. Old Air Products makes an excellent one. Get a new aluminum radiator...you don't want this going bad on a trip and an old one can do that with no warning.
alternator...I'd get one
horn...find a dual note horn if you can from a car made in the 60s...you can hear these from a long distance
12 volt system. Convert yours to this. You'll need a voltage dropper for a couple of things (fuel gauge, heater motor, dash lights unless you replace them)
emergency brakes...check all components including cables...you will need this to be in top shape every time you park in hilly country. Keep them adjusted.
windshield wipers...go electric. Good reasons why vacuum wipers were replaced with electric.
windshield and other glass...replace it and do it correctly. Gotta have good vision.
seat adjustment track...take it apart, clean it well, lubricate it. This will also stop phantom rattles.
door locks/striker plates...the 1951 (I owned one years ago) had an occasional tendency for the doors to open themselves going around corners...or at least mine did. I found a set of NOS locks and strikers and put an end to that nonsense. At any rate, good luck.
