Does anyone have a photo they'd be willing to share of a housing they've kinked from using round u-bolts (torqued to factory spec)? I used them before and have never kinked an 8-3/4 housing. Maybe I've just gotten lucky.
I've got the same Calvert u-bolts holding Dana 60 in my '66 Dart. Granted...
Let's not forget that as the cost of production goes up (labor, regulatory compliance, etc), the profit margins get thinner and thinner. Costs end up getting cut somewhere. It gets really easy to see why a lot of this **** gets outsourced oversees.
I've had good luck with Engine Pro sets. I've only been able to get them through engine shops though.
https://www.enginepro.com/downloads/newdata/EPG_TimingSets.pdf
Can you drill and tap it in place? It'd probably be a total pain in the ***, but possibly doable. Just raise or lower that part to where you can get a straight shot on it with a drill. Hell, if you mess it up, maybe a through bolt and nut on the backside would work.
I don't think it's the copycat **** that's getting them in trouble. It's the fact that they actually put the dude's business name on it. Dude's lawyer should have a field day with this one.