The end of a lever action shock moves in an arc, not straight up and down like a more modern tubular shock. I think that upward tilt is related to the resultant arc. My '37 has the same upward bend in the brackets and I think it needs to be there. I am relying upon memory so I would defer to someone with more knowledge on the subject but don't flatten the bracket just yet.
Kent

1937 Chevy 1/2 ton
1942 Chevy 1/2 ton
1947 Diamond T Model 509
1951 Chevy 1/2 ton
1950 Chevy COE Model 5700 ~ "Barney" ~ And more pix