3" drop coil spring install question

[Hair]

I just installed a set of 3" drop coil springs under the front of my 1971 GMC. I noticed that after I put them in and bolted the spindles and everything back up that the new drop coil springs are loose in there. When I have the wheels lifted off of the ground the new drop springs are loose in there and just clanging around. I have about an inch of play between the coil spring and the "A" frame. The old standard springs were tight no matter if the wheels were off the ground or not. When I set the truck back down I have to be sure that the new springs are lined up with the hole in the "A" frame or they could bind up in there. When everything is back on the ground its all okay but they fall loose when the wheels are lifted off the ground. Is this how they are supposed to fit? It seems that if I were to go over a small hill or something and the front end was to get light that these springs could actually fall loose and bind up in there some how. Is this how 3" drop springs fit? If it's not right, I don't see anything that I could do to change it. One last thing, I do not have the center link and tie rods put back on yet (I took it all out and painted it). When I put the center link ,tie rods, and idler arm back in place will that hold it up more and prevent the springs from being that loose?