Dustin: Use a different rod, you probably have some sort of high tensile or spring steel which is making it not easy to work with. G et some some mild steel or some stainless and go from there.

PJ: Bootmachine will have plenty of chassis flex, he's been lucky and it hasn't caused him any grief yet. TBH the JT chassis still needs the alloy brake seat to help it flex less, (it still flexes easily with minimal pressure if you hold it at each end and give it a tweak) but IMO if you have a full length top plate (or similar bracing) then the alloy seat is not needed. And remember you cant give it (the chassis) too much extra length as the driveshaft wont fit.

EDIT: Sorry Spentona, didnt mean to repeat you, posted at nearly same time! Flat bar makes sense to me too.