replacing bail arm assembly for Shimano Aerlex 8000GT?

It's not worth it.
These reels are fairly cheap to replace. Any non-baitrunner Shimano is easily replaceable, you can get aerlex/aerlex equivalent cheap online second hand if you do a bit of research, or just get a new model. There are plenty of very decent non-Shimano sea/carp reel brands/alternatives out there.
Shimano isn't the dog's danglies any longer.

Tommy
January 2011