Would these shocks be good?

[bucket]

So if I were to modify the springs, would that help? Cut some of them?

You could try removing the lower leaf in the front. Then in the rear you could try removing the modified overload leaf, as well as the one leaf that has been added in.

 

[Grit dog]

An equivalent to a shock would be a steering damper. Same thing, different orientation.

Similar, yes. Equivalent, no. Steering damper valving is quite different for the application compared to shocks in general.