15x8 w/ 4.5” BS on front/good handling size?

It ‘might’.
But on my 70 duster right now with 5x4 and that backspacing it would be maybe 1/16" away from the spring, if not touching. So I guess a LBP conversion might achieve a 3/16" gap between the spring and tire. All this on a 28x10.5. Right now I run 27 x10.2 on a 4.25 bs (sbp) and i have about 5/8" gap to the spring..
Regardless, it’s close a would likely rub under tire flex

Yes.

Those are high aspect ratio drag tires with big sidewall bulge and lots of flex. You’ll need to get that rim edge away from that leaf.