liability (the single word that would keep any responsibile tech from doing this)
fitting non standard oem parts that are not designed to fit on a machine is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
If an accident occurs and can be linked back to that part being the cause if it, it fails and causes the accident you my friend will be the one held accountable for it. If normal parts designed to fit fail it leads back to the mfg. Get where i'm going with this?

Not to mention when the next mechanic comes along and has to deal with it being a non-standard oem part. He gets a new one and it doesn't fit because you shortened the screws.

nobody is saving anything here :o/
not to mention , without giving us a model or brand of lift we don't have a clue what lift your speaking of.