Bman

I'm looking to buy Max420's Courtesy brace. It sounds like the newer model they sell (round tubing, red endlinks). I was just wondering if the end brackets are tall enough to clear the big AC hose on the passenger's side.

I actually went and bought a Freedom Design bar, but it looks different than the one nstymax93 had, and worse yet the end brackets are way way too low to even try bending the bar!

So I'm faced with the options of cutting and welding the brackets like James did, or starting from scratch and just bending it. I figure it'll cost me to weld it, so I want to just try the Courtesy way. Oh, BTW, I have a VE 5speed engine so I know I'll have to bend the bar to clear the manifold.

Yes, I tried searching but didn't really find too much info other than the fact I might have to tie back the AC hose (I hope this thing will flex). I just want to make sure the bar is tall enough to clear the hose okay so I don't end up with another FSTB sitting in the basement. The hose seems to protrude quite high and it's hard to tell if the Courtesy bar is tall enough just from the pics.

Help from anyone with a newer Courtesy on their VE would be appreciated - thanks!

maxmizd27

I have a Coutesy bar, never installed, and it hits the a/c hose. That's when I said it's not worth it. It is the newer one with the red brackets.