Coil springs and ride height

[truck6driver]

Hey all,

I saw the post about coil spring rates but they don't always reflect their ride height. I have a '76 Astre that is 100% stock. Currently collecting parts to do the S10 5 lug swap front and rear with the intentions of putting 14x6 rims on it. The car rides extremely low, seems to be even lower than my previous V8 Monza but that could just be the fact that I'm older.
I also want to get a little bit better handling than the mushy suspension that's on it without doing a full coilover swap. Was looking at the load carrier springs for the rear but I can find no information other than the fact that they're supposed to increase load capacity. I want to match ride height with front springs I can't find any information on the differences between the 4 cylinder, 6 cylinder and V8 Coil spring ride heights only weight capacity.
Rear springs are an easy swap out however the front ones are a royal pain. I also don't want to buy a set of V8 springs and throw in a four-cylinder car and have it ride like a brick. Now before someone throws out coilover suspension with adjustable ride height that is way out of my price range,... at least for a few years to come.
I'm not building a race car for any type of racing. I just plan on driving it. But I do want it to handle well and stop even better. Does anybody have any experience with the load carrying springs or any information on the ride height of the different types of springs?

Thank you

Ray

[BadBowtie]

There is some info on spring rating on the FAQ section not much on rear springs but there are a lot of details for fronts:
https://h-body.org/library/hbodyfaq/hbodyfaq-4.html#4.4

I cant remember but I think I'm running V8 no AC. They have settled wayy lower and they are stiffer but I prefer that when my oil pan and headers flanges are low.
For the rear I used to run 3rd gen camaro dual rate springs ~104lb/in (but progressive), albeit tall in the rear they rode nice. I wanted to cut them but I wanted to match the front spring rate better. Instead I decided to go for another 3rd gen camaro spring, UMI 2061R. 200lb/in spring rate (1.5" lowering spring, which gave me closer to .75-1" drop) and I like them because my car finally sits level and the car feels more balanced. https://forums.h-body.org/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=30039&start=345

Since there are so many differences in the way we set our cars up, how the rearend is done, S10 or stock up front we all run a lot of different tire sizes.
The wheel and tire page has some really nice examples but you'll notice not many look the same. Ive struggled internally with ride height and springs for a few years not wanting to switch to coilovers

Not much help but some information!

[Donthekawguy]

A guy on a vega FB page put a set of Moog CC635 springs and Napa37287 shocks on and likes them. The springs are 15.5ish length which are a couple inches longer than stock. Not sure about what hes using for fronts. I have the same problem as you do. Not sure if its low or it seems lower since I'm older. Last Vega I had was in 1986. lol