I can't answer specifically to the leaf vs coil spring issue; I am just starting to look into this myself as I work towards my own 4 wheel disc conversion.
Here are some articles that may help
The hydro-motive site is long gone, but has been archived here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20080807132725/http://www.hydro-motive.com/toronado/It has the original Diskenstein article which covers
4 wheel disc conversion. Sadly, many of the photos are gone. I believe there is a complete copy (with photos) somewhere on the TOA website, but was not able to find it.
A well documented article on
front drum to disc conversion.
http://www.breznick.com/toronado/brakes/The author believes it's not necessary to do a 4 wheel conversion, but personally, I want to because I plan on putting modern wheels & tires on mine. and don't know how you'd have discs on the front, drums in the rear and have wheels to match. Each pair of wheels would have radically different offsets.