Drop Axle Sid has a scan of an old magazine article about Chevy spindles on his website
http://droppedaxles.com/TECH_ARTICLES.html. There are a few paragraphs about Chevy car brakes fitting on 1/2-ton spindles that may be interesting to you... A 1/2-ton axle will bolt right up to your front springs - and they should; 52 1/2- and 3/4-tons have the same front springs.
There is nothing wrong with or unsafe about a straight axle. As long as the king pins/ bushings, spring pins and bushings and tie rod ends are in good repair. Anti-sway bars can be added... Radial tires. You're good to go.
