The springs will hurt you. PERIOD! They are loaded whether it is sitting on the wheels or hang after it is lifted off the ground. Remove everything as an assembly THEN take the springs off. The smart way to remove the axles is to drop the spring out of the frame. Remove the torque tube from the trans and roll the rear end out as an assembly wheels and all. Do the same on the front. Drop the spring out of the frame, drop the steering and the wishbone from the frame. I should mention to remove all the brake rods first... You don't want to bend them up.
Here is the proper way to remove the spring from the axles. You can easily fab a similar tool. Its just a spreader bar. Make sure to make the ends in a U shape so that they capture the spring. Also make sure to have enough travel in both directions to be able to release the spring from the axle/shackles but to also be able to remove the tool from the spring.
Model A Ford Garage ~ Model A & B Snap-on Rear Spring Spreader
What is the need to weld on the axle tube? I don't recall them being cast but its been a long, long time.....
Pics... Pics... A-bones are the original love of my life. 31 Tudor Sedans to be exact... Chopped and dropped...