[Arocket]

I have installed a set of Performance Year exhaust manifolds on a 76' Le Mans and the down tubes hit what I would call the "Chassis Stiffener " bars that run from the frame rails on the side of the frame up to the front crossmember.
I am using 3" down tubes for this application. I am sure that I am not the first person to run into this problem with these "bolt in" bars!

Any suggestions on solving this issue? Possibly manufacturing a flat plate that would maintain the rigidity and allow for the down tubes to work or what has anyone else done in this situation?

I have had one guy tell me just to remove the bars however the engine puts out over 500 FT LBS of torque and I just cant see the GM engineers putting these bars on if they were not needed!

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.