Tucking factory 74 bumpers

That is what I was thinking. Drain the oil and collapse it and then prevent it from moving back out. Why not just weld it all the way around?

You could, just keep in mind you’ll be welding on closed space that was previously full of oil and is only vented with a small hole and also has a compressed spring in it wanting to unload.

If you can weld, it would be easier to just use some flat stock to make a new bracket entirely and avoid the whole situation. With would literally only take one piece of flat stock welded to a flat plate and all of 3 holes.