as I said before, the rear end is likely a 2spd and being a 1 ton it almost certinly has a 4spd w/ the granny 1st gear.. oh, the rear end/ drive shaft is torque tube, getting a higher gear may be impossible, if you were going to maintain it as a 1 ton ( I would ) as the higher geared 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton rears won't fit the 1 ton. you could get a newer open driveshaft rear, and adapt a later model trans and get all the stuff from a '55-'63 car or truck that had a 235 to hook it up.. it would be a powerglide if you were to go auto.