I got a good deal and need advise

A place like ADDCO used to and may still surply MP with swap bars. You could try them for the tabs as well as other places that deal in suspension like P-S-T .com. or Heliwig.

Those Chrome slapper bars should be sold to the nearest Chevy guy and the money rolled over into ethier good springs (Leafs) and/or a pinion snubber.

As mentioned above, a good pressure washing is more than enuff. Let air dry in the sun after you blow it out with compressed air. Light surface rust is not an issue.