some thoughts

I don't see why disc brakes are in the way of the valve covers... unless this FE is in a go cart. You might be thinking of a power brake booster...the devil's work. You can run manual discs, in fact i'd question your manhood if you needed power assist.

I know a guy that's used the silly expensive Praise-the-drums setup and it stops well. But then again i've had to work on a 60 Cad that would skid with a feather touch with booster disconnected because it had too-soft brake lining material. It needed harder linings to even be controllable.

I say ask the oldest coot you can find at the parts store and see if there is a choice of brake shoes and get the softest ones. If they don't understand find a brake rebuilder that does relining themselves.