satyr-
i'm not familiar with the 201 suspension system, ergo my question: is the top
of the spring secured within a spring perch, like a big hollowed donut (which
is turn, welded to the car frame)...and the bottom of the spring nesting within
the lower control arm?
if so, the lower control arm is likely to include an indentation in which the
spring is to reside within....and importantly, indexed against a stop. if you
didn't, and simply inserted the spring in blindly then it's certainly possible
that the spring will be as much as an inch higher than it should had the
spring been indexed properly.
http://video.tinypic.com/player.php?v=48pwb5s
video shows individual shock and spring system, which is what i'm picturing
for your car