The whole reason you would not bash in your oil pan to clear the slant 6 link is because with a mid sump oil pan, oil sloshing back on hard excels has actually been the cause of oil starvation. Adding a larger hurdle for oil to return to the sump is not good. Also with the early abodies- hood clearance is horrible. Raising the engine up means possibly an air cleaner into the hood or running a short cleaner means less air in the engine. Those center links typically sell on here for like $100-150.