Topic: Racing Springs for cheap
Maybe it's just the cheapskate in me. We make regular trips to the local pick-and-pulls always scouting for 1 ton van or pickup trucks with front coils. Cut the springs down to appropriate ride hieghts and rate them. This was for heavier Monte Carlo type circle track cars, but lighter truck or bigger car stuff can be made to work for lighter cars. Just about every circle track shop or garage will have a spring rater. Tell them what you are doing and they will probably rate them for you for a donut. If you are on the south side of Chicago, we can do it for you. Used coilover racing springs are dirt cheap at the circle track auctions. I purchased an assorted box of 10 for $20 in the past. It's a trial and error thing, but if I can figure it out anyone can. Be sure to rate your old springs as a baseline.
We have a nice assortment of $5 and $10 coil springs collected over the years. Too bad we have leaf springs on the rear. I'm old enough to remember how to re-arc leaf springs with 2 bricks and a big hammer and add extra old leaves for stiffness.