Sounds like you need a 1/2 ton truck, and leave the one ton as is. Where in VA are you, My 1 ton may need some company..

I had disc brakes under my 1 ton, front and rear. Also had 4.65 gears, and I feel 4.10 is s fast as my rebuilt 235 would like, and possibly 3.73 if I did not live in the mountains.
Check out the disc brake conversion pictures on the last link in my signature. While you may not want to to exactly what I did, the process is the same for an 8 lug axle.

Grigg

•1951 GMC 250 in the Project Journals
•1948 Chevrolet 6400 - Detroit Diesel 4-53T - Roadranger 10 speed overdrive - 4 wheel disc brakes
•1952 Chevrolet 3800 pickup
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"First, get a clear notion of what you desire to accomplish, and then in all probability you will succeed in doing it..." -Henry Maudslay-