49 GMC leaf springs

[Volfandt]

Been perusing many threads here on straight axle and leaf spring suspensions and I've some questions I'll throw out.
The truck is a 49 GMC 100 that I traded for back last fall. The 250 in it was shot and wasn't running when I got it. Someone put some "old school" mod's to it, some good, some not so good and I'm sorting through the various subsystems.
It's been slammed by removing springs and running 14" Crager's. The drivetrain is a TH350, open driveshaft and an 10 bolt Chevy 8.5 rear.

On the front straight axle theres only 2 springs and they're either bent or bowed opposite from stock. I don't know if they are monoleafs or someone just removed leafs.
Question 1, is this SOP for just 2 leafs or are they worn/bent/bowed out of shape. How should they sit, level?
Question 2, this 49 originally had lever shocks, now it has short tube shocks mount inside the frame. I had to remove the right one to clear the fuel pump of the SBC I just installed. I may use the same method and mount it on the outside. With one shock inside the frame and the other outside, good or bad?
Question 3, To make clearance I moved the steering gearbox out 1 3/4", anyone ever heat and bend a pitman arm or is there a replacement available?
I've got a full set of used but servicable OEM springs so I can go back that route but don't want to replace the wheels and tires. Something tells me they'd look bad with the truck raised back up to stock height.
Trying to stay within a strict budget so I'm wanting to work with what I've got. No IFS, Posies, power steering or IDIDIT upgrades at this time but maybe added later.
Thanks
Dave