Ideas for bending a "custom" transfer case shifter.

I am swapping transmissions and transfer cases again in my Tacoma. The transmission I am using is longer and pushes the shifter all the way to the back of the shifter hole in the floor.



I have a stick of 3/8s rod (I think) I want to use. I don't have a cutting torch, but do have a hand held propane torch. I'm wondering if anyone knows or had experience with using propane to bent something of this size. I also read that "Mapp gas" or "Map pro gas" might work better...

I would like to replace the steel rod on the shifter in the picture and bend a new one to place the shifter near the middle of the hole... It can't stick up too much, because the body is pretty close to the transmissions already.

 

Propane or Mapp will do, Mapp will be better and take less time. As long as you can get it pretty red, life will be good. If it's mild steel I would not use less than 1/2" rod depending on the length.
If the bend/s are just a few degrees you could likely bend it cold, depending on what implements of destruction are at hand.

I bent this fairly tight 90 in 3/8" with propane for a dial indicator "hole adapter".

 

@COMAtized99

I just added a line to the post about working it cold.

 

I am pretty sure I am going to need a tight 90 to get past the body, then I'll have to see how it goes after that.