Great post Steve! That's exactly right.
I went though the same thing when I used Hotckis front coils on my '68. Dropped the car, and thought, wtf? It sat about 2" too high. So I had to cut them.
Lesson learned: Just buy coils with the proper rate, and cut trial and error method.
I was really please with how the Hotchkis rear leafs made the car sit though. I would of liked maybe another 1/2"-1" lower, but with the truck loaded, it would've rubbed.
ps, I've ruined a few sets of coils in the past too,
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