OLD vs NEW coil springs (chopped)

[sactoC10]

OK, part II of my holiday weekend drama. I decided to install my lowering spindles and chop a coil off my stock springs for a 3.5-4" drop. I easily had 6" of room or more. The old stock springs had a different idea and when I lowered it off the jacks, it was riding about 3/4" from the fender and of course rubbed. It looked pretty cool, but sounded like hell. Thus I needed a fix.

Yesterday I bought a set of 80's coil spings, put them in last night and now the truck is about 3" taller than I want it to be. So what's the deal here. The springs were identical in size (except for the chopped coil)...but the new (newer) ones just seemed to be stiffer and stronger.

I'm thinking of going back to square one and chopping a coil off these springs, which should not sag like the other ones did. Anyone have any comments about this?

And yes, I know that I can get a pair of drop coils for about $110, just don't want to do that (yet).