No worries Dan, were on the same page. The spring rate is manufactured into the torsion bar and theres no ifs, ands, or buts about that.
Ummm
.I dont have real numbers for the 100 series torsion bars, but the story is something like this. If the stock torsion bars are rated for 100-pounds/inch and you end up putting 6 inches of preload into the adjustment to gain 2 inches of lift over stock height, youre effective initial spring rate feels like a 600-pound spring. If you were to install a stiffer torsion bar with a 150-pound/inch spring rate, it may take something like 3 inches of preload to achieve the same right height, thus the effective initial spring rate feels like a 450-pound spring.
Now when the when the suspension begins to move (compress), the stock spring requires another 100 pounds to compress another inch, increasing the total force to 700 pounds. But with the stiffer torsion bars, another 150 pounds is required to compress another inch, increasing the force to 600 pounds (100 pounds less than the stock bars). This is where the softer initial ride come into play. But you can see after another inch or two of compression, the stiffer torsion bars will require more force to compress than the stock bars.
I was running a TC long travel kit on the front of my 94 Toyota Pickup and was getting 12 of travel. I experimented with various torsion bars and preload adjustments, and broke more parts in the desert than I care to mention. Things got MUCH better once I ditched the torsion bars and converted to a set of 2.5 Fox coil overs.