Does it interfere with the top or bottom of the rod? If the bottom, you could swing the rod outboard and drill another hole in the apron for it. If it hits the top of the rod, you could shorten the rod and attach it lower on the radiator frame. Since you've got a V8 in there, you likely won't have the rods from the firewall to the inner fenders, so the rod supporting the radiator frame is likely more important to have in place in some fashion. I definitely wouldn't leave out both rods in front of the radiator.
