Proportioning Valve?

The brass block is really a distribution block. The proportioning is done with wheel cylinder / caliper piston sizing.

The brass block, or Tee (as it is called in the Parts Manual) is fitted with valves as installed in the A-body. In addition, it contains the switch the activates the BRAKE warning light on the dash.

From looking at the parts manual, the rear wheel cylinder size is a function of the diameter of the drum. The 9" brake used one size piston, 10" & 11" brakes use another. There is no difference whether the car had disk or drum front brakes. Also, there is no difference in the front caliper piston size as relates to the drum size fitted at the rear.

I really wonder if they are indeed the same. If someone had an old parts book they could see if they were the same part number.

No. For the A-body, the parts numbers are 3420 021 for the drums, 3549 947 for discs in the 72 manual.