Rear leaf spring modification/removing a leaf

[webfoot]

The rear springs in my 70 are off a 73-87 1-ton and are QUITE stiff, especially with a 88-98 fiberglass step bed on it, they aren't really compressed much at all. (I measured 2" of shock travel between sprung and unsprung.) If I could remove a leaf I think they might be a world better, but the pack is riveted and banded together. Has anybody ever done this before? Or is a new set of springs in order? I was pricing skyjacker softrides and they are about $320 EACH.. ouch.