btw chevyman - I contacted boyce about front end stuff, but they couldn't help me. 4x4 is their main deal, but I appreciate the info to try to find stuff.
the best brakes stuff I have found was local -
www.praisedynobrake.com - they have some rather pricey brake shoes, but the brake co-efficent is .41 rather than .25, which might be good enough. I have a bud who drives a 1960 chevy 1/2 ton (executive director at the Age of Steam Railroad museum here in town) and he runs stock brakes and sez they are fine, as long as there is no load in the truck.
Anyone used praisedyno's stuff? Believe it or not they knew all about what was needed for my rust mountain, and had the bits in stock! Must be a common bit.
