DavidF, believe me, I did not have to hold up the entire springs set.....the rivit only "sets" in ONE spring leaf. I did not have to hold the entire spring set up to press the rivits!!
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/shacklebolt005.jpgI made up the "straps" and rivited them to the bottom leaf. The bottom leaf has an indention on the back side so that when you press the rivit it flattens out in the recess so that its smooth. Then I bent the straps into a "U" shape to hold the spring pack together with a final "tightening" in a vice.
Sorry Big Dan, didn't mean to high jack your thread but in the picture I just posted you can see the rivits I mentioned in the answer to your question.
