i must be completely missing something ?!?

If you are going to clamp the front segment, put the clamp on the underside so it will stiffen up to and including the front eye.

A thought that just came to mind.......what is your pinion angle? You can get wedge shims so you can get the angle you want.

You may have to go to a machine shop to get what you want custom made......it would be best if you could give them a print, even a pencil drawing, with dimensions. They are not going to know what you want unless YOU know what you want.