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sway bars, worth it? #2578374
11/14/18 02:11 PM
11/14/18 02:11 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline OP
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Early A body. daily driver. easy driven around town. would it show much difference in turns/be worth the investment? thank you for your time.


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: RapidRobert] #2578380
11/14/18 02:29 PM
11/14/18 02:29 PM
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Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar Offline
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Aurora, Colorado
I like them on my street car B-body

Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: 451Mopar] #2578386
11/14/18 02:43 PM
11/14/18 02:43 PM
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s.w.fl
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bonefish Offline
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i took them off my 69 b-body,never noticed a diff.my car is just a mid 10 sec street strip car, i dont really pull any Rockfords or twisty road driving.

Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: RapidRobert] #2578387
11/14/18 02:44 PM
11/14/18 02:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,538
Albany, NY
67SATisfaction Offline
The member whose name is actually Art
67SATisfaction  Offline
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Albany, NY
RR,
It will improve your handling, but your satisfaction will depend how sensitive you are to it. Yes, I think you will feel a difference. It would turn crisper, flatter, and create a little more understeer with a front sway. Add a rear sway and it'll go back to neutral and be much flatter in harder turns. Include stiffer shocks and your handling will be even one more step crisper. Larger, wider rims with better tires takes you another step... The more steps you take, the less comfortable it will be on the street.. Sways are a good first step.

How necessary it is, is up to you. Sways, shocks, rims, tires, are not expensive steps, easy to install, and each one improves your handling. At some point consider front discs to stop you better. But that's more money.

EXAMPLE: I like to track race, so I put a 9lb FirmFeel tubular sway on the front of our '65, plus a rear sway.. plus stiffer shocks.. plus stickier, wider tires but stayed with 14" rims (Ford 6.5") to absorb harshness.. I have a very reasonably soft ride with much tighter, flatter handling than before..

- Art


65 Satellite hardtop 361/4bbl console 727 2.76
67 Satellite convert 383/2bbl column 727 3.23
67 Lancia Fulvia Sport 1.3 Zagato. Alloy body, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd
67 Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.3. Alloy panel, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd
71 Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1300 Zagato, 1.3L 4cyl DOHC hemi 5-spd
82 Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5L SOHC hemi V6 5-spd transaxle
75 Maserati Bora US spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF
77 Maserati Khamsin Euro spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF
07 Aston Martin DB9 6.0L DOHC V12 6spd transaxle
Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: RapidRobert] #2578392
11/14/18 02:58 PM
11/14/18 02:58 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 73
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BeavisHQV Offline
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changed the front to a thicker one, added one in the rear + new pst-shocks. Huge improvement. But i have a heavier b-body.

And thanks again for your help in several question!

Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: RapidRobert] #2578396
11/14/18 03:06 PM
11/14/18 03:06 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 816
On the open road
Hrtbkr Online content
super stock
Hrtbkr  Online Content
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On the open road
I added a rear and a thicker front to my Challenger and it made a big difference during hard turns.


While outside on the turnpike They got this new hit tune Where thrills become as cheap as gas And gas as cheap as thrills
Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: RapidRobert] #2578420
11/14/18 04:11 PM
11/14/18 04:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,369
Michigan
MarkZ Offline
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Michigan
One of the first things I did to my Fifth Avenue was a set of matched cop car bars. Car originally only had a front 1 1/16" bar. The cop bars measure 1 1/8" and 0.75". It made a huge difference in regular street driving and changing lanes on the interstate. Honestly, it made it safer to drive.

If I was daily driving and old car I'd match a set of big sway bars and go soft on the torsion bars.


1987 Fifth Avenue - 512/518/D60
Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: MarkZ] #2578433
11/14/18 04:55 PM
11/14/18 04:55 PM
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Posts: 1,374
Houston,Tx.
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Lee446 Offline
pro stock
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Houston,Tx.
I bought a set of front and rears for my b-body. Before I got around to installing them, I put in a set of 1.05 T-bars. Holy Smokes, what a difference in handling with no change in ride quality! I'm not a roadracer, but the car takes the curves faster than I want to go, I never got around to mounting the sway bars.

Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: RapidRobert] #2578434
11/14/18 04:55 PM
11/14/18 04:55 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,543
chicagoland,usa
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buildanother Offline
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I bought a nice, solid 67 383 fact a/c 2 door satellite years ago, and that thing leaned quite a bit on any decent corner. Got a stock 67 gtx sway bar from a friend, added tabs to lower arms, and put urethane bushings on end links too. It helped that nose heavy cruiser.

Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: BeavisHQV] #2578437
11/14/18 04:58 PM
11/14/18 04:58 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline OP
Circle Track
Happy Birthday RapidRobert  Offline OP
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Lincoln Nebraska
Quote:
And thanks again for your help in several question!
Hey you are welcome. Sitting in front of the computer motionless is my favorite activity! On the S/B, there is one for sale for $80 WO the links etc. Just wondering if I should jump on it or not as the complete kit is ~2 bills & I'm sure the extras needed are available seperately.


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: RapidRobert] #2578483
11/14/18 06:45 PM
11/14/18 06:45 PM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,443
Morristown Tn.
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71birdJ68 Offline
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My 318 B body never cam with a bar and it handles just fine.

Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: RapidRobert] #2578494
11/14/18 07:26 PM
11/14/18 07:26 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,935
WI
Dcuda69 Offline
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WI
I have a BB A-body so it's a tick nose heavy. Added frame connectors and a front and rear sway bar set from Hellwig. I think the car handles quite well for a street cruiser. Lots of fun out on the rural roads.

Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: buildanother] #2578501
11/14/18 07:46 PM
11/14/18 07:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,538
Albany, NY
67SATisfaction Offline
The member whose name is actually Art
67SATisfaction  Offline
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Originally Posted By buildanother
I bought a nice, solid 67 383 fact a/c 2 door satellite years ago, and that thing leaned quite a bit on any decent corner.


..ah yup, our '67 Satellite convert is a totally stock 383/2bbl and it rolls like a drunken sailor. laugh2


65 Satellite hardtop 361/4bbl console 727 2.76
67 Satellite convert 383/2bbl column 727 3.23
67 Lancia Fulvia Sport 1.3 Zagato. Alloy body, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd
67 Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.3. Alloy panel, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd
71 Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1300 Zagato, 1.3L 4cyl DOHC hemi 5-spd
82 Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5L SOHC hemi V6 5-spd transaxle
75 Maserati Bora US spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF
77 Maserati Khamsin Euro spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF
07 Aston Martin DB9 6.0L DOHC V12 6spd transaxle
Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: 67SATisfaction] #2578516
11/14/18 08:31 PM
11/14/18 08:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,356
Eagle, Idaho
Neil Offline
The Doctor is in.
Neil  Offline
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Eagle, Idaho
I bought a 67 Mustang that had the suspension modified with sway bars and lowering springs by the previous owner. That thing cornered dead flat. Spooked a couple passengers by not slowing down for a corner or two like they expected an old car would have to do.

Big bars and moderate springs will give a better ride and still corner well.

Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: 71birdJ68] #2578538
11/14/18 10:02 PM
11/14/18 10:02 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,788
Hamilton, Ontario Canada
Magnum Offline
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Originally Posted By 71birdJ68
My 318 B body never cam with a bar and it handles just fine.


Compared to what?


69 Super Bee, 93 Mustang LX, 04 Allure Super
Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: Magnum] #2578546
11/14/18 10:21 PM
11/14/18 10:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,369
Michigan
MarkZ Offline
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Michigan
Originally Posted By Magnum
Originally Posted By 71birdJ68
My 318 B body never cam with a bar and it handles just fine.


Compared to what?




1987 Fifth Avenue - 512/518/D60
Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: RapidRobert] #2578550
11/14/18 10:30 PM
11/14/18 10:30 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,951
northwest USA
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NANKET Offline
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northwest USA
1970 383 2bbl B-bodies come with 318 T-bars. Never understood the thinking of Ma Mopar on that one.

The broadcast sheet will tell you what's in there.

Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: RapidRobert] #2578565
11/14/18 11:03 PM
11/14/18 11:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,947
Oregon
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AndyF Offline
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Oregon
Originally Posted By RapidRobert
Early A body. daily driver. easy driven around town. would it show much difference in turns/be worth the investment? thank you for your time.


Huge difference between no bar and a peformance bar. There is also a big difference between factory torsion bars and larger bars as well as factory tires and modern tires. All depends on where you want to stop.

I rode in a fairly stock GTX the other day and was surprised at how mushy it was. Been a long time since I was in a stock suspension Mopar so I'd forgotten how soft they are.

Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: MarkZ] #2578566
11/14/18 11:05 PM
11/14/18 11:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,947
Oregon
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AndyF Offline
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AndyF  Offline
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Oregon
Originally Posted By MarkM
Originally Posted By Magnum
Originally Posted By 71birdJ68
My 318 B body never cam with a bar and it handles just fine.


Compared to what?




Need a picture of a pig on ice to fully capture the handling of a B body car with tiny torsion bars, no anti-sway bar and OEM tires!

Re: sway bars, worth it? [Re: AndyF] #2578586
11/15/18 12:10 AM
11/15/18 12:10 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline OP
Circle Track
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Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
The one I got in mind is an Addco #751 & it is 1&1/8". 63 dart convertible I am resurrecting next year. EDIT I remember seeing an early A OE front sway bar & it is very small. (that jogged a memory from the /6 club of America literature decades ago, maybe 7/8"). I will have top notch tires on it.

Last edited by RapidRobert; 11/15/18 12:26 AM.

live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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