For the foot starter, make sure you are using a 48-59 truck bellhousing.
Using a floor shifter will make your options much better. If you do want to stay with the column shift, don't be afraid to use a plain ol' Chevy 3spd or 3spdOD. They are plenty good enough for what you are doing. Even if you break one, they are a dime a dozen and easy to replace.
There is another tranny that you may want to consider (for floor shift). The New Process NP-A833 4spd used in 81-86 Chevy trucks. See the post "1985 Chev Overdrive Trans" for details and pictures.
