I've seen some done in both finishes. I was looking at Roger Gibson's site and seems he has some both ways. What color should it be or did they come either way? What about the brackets? From what I can tell they should be black correct?

Thanks, Joe

Brackets are black, not sure on the bar, seems like they have no paint on them when cleaned up.

Thanks. Another Moparts member pm'd me some great info and I may have been mistaken looking at the photos on RG's website. It appears the swaybar should be natural steel.

The media blaster I took some of my parts to got my order confused with another and accidentally painted it black. Looks like he may be blasting it again.

Thanks again. Joe

Well, Frank Badalson is now writing a column in Mopar Enthusiast and one of the past issues addressed the front sway bar... It was stated that all were black and leaving it natural is one of the most common resto mistakes...

sway bar should be natural. I powdercoated mine a cast silver color. If you just blast them and shoot clear on them they dont look quite right.

Black painted bar.
Natural steel for the retaining u-straps.

I know RestoRick has years of experience and is a top notch restorer and therefore is WAY more knowledgeable on this stuff than I. So, I'm posting this for discussion sake and not argue. Another member sent me an article that Roger Gibson wrote, he states the front swaybar should be natural but does look darker then most bare metal parts due to the forging process. He also states that the bolt on brackets should be black and the welded brackets should be natural.

Is it possible that there were variances in this are based on the factory the car was produced or the date the car was built? In fairness, the article may be focusing on a 70 b-body thought it shows and Challenger in it also. Perhaps the reason for the difference is model related.

Thanks for everyone's input so far. Joe

K-members varied a bit from what I've observed, as many components did.
I've done the sway bars with what I'd call a semi-gloss black; a tick down from full gloss.
70's technology gloss black enamel was about like today's urethane semi-gloss, IMO...
so it depends what you're applying.

Rick

WOW!? Could there be a variaton of finishes depending at what plant/model/year the car was built? I have an article written by Roger Gibson on 70 B body/71 E body that states that sway bars were a "natural finish, although it is darker than most cast iron pieces due to the tempering process applied to spring steel parts", and "the straps that are bolted are dipped in 33% flattened black".

The front sway bar on my '70 E Body was 'painted' black Joe, & drips, were added no extra charge... Nick

Is therre any new information on this? I have a AAR and thought it was painted black based on a number of survivors. I recently have been in conversation with another member that is very knowledgeable and I have begun to test, he contends that they are bare. Any fact on the subject would be appreciated. I know our information develops over the years so I am hoping there is a definitive answer now.

Thanks, Kevein

The 70 E-Body sway bars were either of these 3 finishes...

Black, black or black.

The brackets are a different story.

Thanks folks, I blasted my bar today and there was definitely black on it as well as another member I talk to verified he had black on his original bar as well. The brackets were natural best I can tell from all of the information I have.

best $100 you can spend on your restoration
http://www.mmcdetroit.com/Market_Place/ICCA/E%20Body%2070%2074/

The brackets were actually plated - but the plating wore off on many due to where they are....road conditions etc.

Not sure if they were silver zinc or cad....I'll check.

Good stuff,bought it for my car too..

http://bmcuda.com/proddetail.asp?prod=2535587SWAYBARBUSHGPKG