John,
Been there, done that. Didn't like the reverse eye front main with a few springs removed, bottomed out to often. Wound up adding a 3" drop axle, reverse eye mains and 1/2" bore shocks in the front. Rides great and does not bottom out and has a nice low height. Am in the process of adding reverse eye mains in the rear and will do the same with the shocks, already have removed a couple of springs. Have stripped the frame and adding a coat of glossy black por on the frame while I have the bed off. Will see where I wind up in the rear, don't want to c-notch the frame unless I have to. Have pics in my KMC gallery of the front lowered. Bought all my springs from Mid Fifties. Good luck

 

Call Eaton springs I orderd some from them for my 60 they have a 3inch drop standard eye and they are made custom for the weight of my engine. A little costly but these are what you ride on very important I wouldn't take a chance with my family by altering anything that is engineered to support the truck weight. Plus I must say they do break and they are designed to work if they do. Remember GM played with the mono in 67 but they failed.
Good luck and BTW my front springs were approx 400 for the pair

 

I went with a little different option than everybody else. I de-arched my leaf springs. It gave me very accurate control over my ride height and was cheaper then monos or IFS. I don't know if too many old time spring shops are still around, but these are the guys I went to www.sacramentospring.com. It was extremely simple...I just gave them an original ride height and a desired ride height and he hit it within a 1/4" both front and back. It rides rough, but no rougher then the original. Also, the guy told me my rear packs had an overload leaf in it (and I left it in) so that could also explain the ride, especially with an empty bed. Overall, I'm very happy with the dearched springs and would recommend it. Also, I'm running a small block chevy in it and haven't had any weight issues.

 

Does any body know a trick to getting the stud removed from the rear spring hangers?? I have removed the grease zerk and the tapered lock pin but can not get the studs removed. Was thinking about getting my sawsall out but figured I would ask for help first. Thanks