IMHO you are time and money ahead of the game using a Ford axle for the front. Clocking, and fabbing stuff, and switching stuff is an aweful lot of work if you DONT have to do it. You can use any leafs you want. Even if the Ford axle has pads for 3" leafs you can still use standard 2.5" leafs which come in most oobs chevy lift kits. I did it. I run Alcan springs now and I had them made in the 2.5" width.