Jim and Barnbird, thanks for your help. I am not sure if the core I removed was original or aftermarket. The one I installed was aftermarket and the kink in the hose was about the same on both. I will likely need to use a little heat on the core tube to make a bend that will allow me to install the hose without the kink. It appears that there is plenty of room between the AC suitcase and the inner fender to route the hose without kinking it if I can bend that tube a bit. Really appreciate both of you for your help, advice, and the service manual. Looking forward to tapping into your expertise as I move forward to get the car on the road. Thanks for all you do. Ron