I have done this before by disassembling the drum brake setup, but is there an easier way to pull the axles away from the pig in the rear, to swap the gears (like to remove the whole axle assembly with the brakes included?

You nonly need to remove the drums. Not the rest of the brakes. Pull the drums and remove the 3/8" axle retaining nuts and simply pull the axle. If you have the OE axle with an access hole you can use a socket on the retaining nuts. Otherwise, just use a box wrench. Its a little tight with the box wrench but it works. Shoes, springs, slave cylinder and backing plates do not need to be disturbed.

No reason to take anything but the drums off and teh 5 axle retaining nuts and pop the axle out i would recommend replacing the inner axle seal and cleaning and packing the axle bearings while you are at it. What you pack into that bearing is what it will run on. It should get no lube from the rear end.
http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/axle/12.html