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Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! #512362 10/31/09 04:06 PM 10/31/09 04:06 PM
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia W wh23g3g OP member
wh23g3g OP member W Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia	I was checking over everything on the front end getting my torsion bars base adjusted before I attempt to install my 400/727 in my 73 Charger. I installed the new front urethane suspension, joints, tie rods, about a year ago. Everything was bead blasted and painted a normal coat of black epoxy, but not the thick stuff just rattle can stuff. I remember the passenger side torsion bar went in real easy and the drivers side was the one that gave me trouble. They've been installed about a year ago with the car still up in the air. Remember I was having trouble turning the adjuster screw on the torsion bars. Well I just went to adjust the driver's side and it was nice and easy and touched the anchor pivot easily. But on this passenger side torsion bar the anchor is all the way up so that's why the adjustment screw was always wobbling and hard to turn. How do I get the anchor to loosen and drop back down so I can adjust it? I loosened up the pivot shaft nut but it didn't change. I tried to knock the anchor pivot back down from the top but it won't move. Am I going to have to remove the bar again? What do you think happened? I guess this will keep me from installing the motor for awhile.

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: wh23g3g] #512363 10/31/09 04:09 PM 10/31/09 04:09 PM
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 21,844 Kirkland, Washington Pacnorthcuda Too Many Posts
Pacnorthcuda Too Many Posts Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 21,844 Kirkland, Washington	Could the bar be installed one flat off? Meaning it needs to be 're-clocked' by one flat?

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: Pacnorthcuda] #512364 10/31/09 04:41 PM 10/31/09 04:41 PM
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia W wh23g3g OP member
wh23g3g OP member W Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia	I didn't know they could be installed wrong. I just installed the control arms and put the torsion bars in how ever they went. Will the bar have to come back out?

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: wh23g3g] #512365 10/31/09 04:48 PM 10/31/09 04:48 PM
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 21,844 Kirkland, Washington Pacnorthcuda Too Many Posts
Pacnorthcuda Too Many Posts Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 21,844 Kirkland, Washington	well, I am having trouble picturing the situation you describe in your post but you can slide the T-Bar rearward (remove the clip) until its out of the LCA socket then reinstall one flat differently by just moving the LCA up or down.

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: wh23g3g] #512366 10/31/09 04:49 PM 10/31/09 04:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,971 Grand Prairie,Texas stumpy I Win
stumpy I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,971 Grand Prairie,Texas	Bump stops should be removed and the lower control arms pulled down as far as possible with the adjusting bolts backed out all the way to get the T bars prelaoded.

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: stumpy] #512367 10/31/09 05:00 PM 10/31/09 05:00 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Quote: Bump stops should be removed and the lower control arms pulled down as far as possible with the adjusting bolts backed out all the way to get the T bars prelaoded.

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: Challenger 1] #512368 10/31/09 07:16 PM 10/31/09 07:16 PM
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia W wh23g3g OP member
wh23g3g OP member W Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia	If I remove the bar again. Should that anchor blade move freely once the bar is out? I'll have to try and take a photo but I don't know if it will turn out, it's in a hard to see area.

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: wh23g3g] #512369 10/31/09 07:18 PM 10/31/09 07:18 PM
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 21,844 Kirkland, Washington Pacnorthcuda Too Many Posts
Pacnorthcuda Too Many Posts Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 21,844 Kirkland, Washington	Yes the pivot that the adjustment bolt contacts should move freely with the bar out.

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: wh23g3g] #512370 10/31/09 07:57 PM 10/31/09 07:57 PM
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 11,543 chicagoland,usa B buildanother I Live Here
buildanother I Live Here B Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 11,543 chicagoland,usa	You may have to loosen the pivot shaft nut a couple of turns to get the lever to drop down.

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: buildanother] #512371 10/31/09 08:34 PM 10/31/09 08:34 PM
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia W wh23g3g OP member
wh23g3g OP member W Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia	Ok I went out and whacked the torsion bar out enough to drop the anchor stop back down. Now how do I get the bar back in? I was going to remove the whole bar again and replace the urethane torsion bar boot with the new OEM one I had from Year One since the one on the other side is an OEM and not urethane but I scratched that idea when I couldn't pull the bar out of the boot since it's so tight. What is the trick for getting these boots on and off these bars? I remember I had so much trouble on the other side I had to install the OEM rubber instead of the urethane and it was still hard to do. Now I can't even get the torsion bar seated back in the control arm anchor enough so that I can go to the back crossmember and drive it in all the way. What makes these bars so hard to get seated again? I remember just wearing myself out trying to get the other side seated. I must have hit the back of the torsion bar hex with like 500lbs and the bar just stayed in the same position. I don't remember how I finally got it in. Is there an easy to get these seated again?

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: wh23g3g] #512372 10/31/09 11:37 PM 10/31/09 11:37 PM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,872 connecticut pnypwr master
pnypwr master Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,872 connecticut	front end parts should be torqued with the weight on the vehicle! "Are you gonna bark all day lil doggy? Or are you gonna bite?" 05 ram 2500 ctd 74 gremlin x 360 65 mustang 347 70 coronet R/T 440 03 Mach 1

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: wh23g3g] #512373 11/02/09 05:30 AM 11/02/09 05:30 AM
Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 3,287 West Coast, USA jbc426 master
jbc426 master Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 3,287 West Coast, USA	Are you trying to install them with out separating one of the ball joints or disconnecting the upper control arm at the bushings, so the lower control arm can hang down lower? 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: jbc426] #512374 11/02/09 05:49 AM 11/02/09 05:49 AM
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia W wh23g3g OP member
wh23g3g OP member W Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia	No I don't need to separate them. All the bushings and balljoints have been done. I'm just trying to slide the hex end of the torsion bar back into the hex opening in the LCA. It seems to be impossible. How easy it is suppose to go in there. The factory 73 chassis service manual says to slide the bar back into the LCA but doesn't specify any having to knock them in or any special installation tool. I know I had to whack the other side's bar in with a ton of force just to get it to seat all the way in the LCA.

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: wh23g3g] #512375 11/02/09 08:18 PM 11/02/09 08:18 PM
Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 3,287 West Coast, USA jbc426 master
jbc426 master Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 3,287 West Coast, USA	Quote: No I don't need to separate them.... That's why you're having such a hard time. If I hadn't left the lower control arm's main pivot shaft and nut loose and pulled the upper control arm's eccentric bolts so the control arm could hang down and wiggle around a bit, mine would have been nearly impossible to put back in too. I had the same issue, but didn't want to force it. Once I saw that it was binding, I stopped and loosened up the points mentioned, and mine slid right in with a couple of light taps. 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: jbc426] #512376 11/03/09 12:05 AM 11/03/09 12:05 AM
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia W wh23g3g OP member
wh23g3g OP member W Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia	Mine doesn't have the cam bolts. It's got the adjustment shaft on the top like the GM's use. In the factory 73 Chrysler service manual it doesn't say anything needs to be removed to install the torsion bar. Just the adjusters on LCA loosened and the lock ring taken out the back crossmember.

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: wh23g3g] #512377 11/03/09 01:55 PM 11/03/09 01:55 PM
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,256 IL furious70 top fuel
furious70 top fuel Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,256 IL	Quote: Mine doesn't have the cam bolts. It's got the adjustment shaft on the top like the GM's use. In the factory 73 Chrysler service manual it doesn't say anything needs to be removed to install the torsion bar. Just the adjusters on LCA loosened and the lock ring taken out the back crossmember. Not sure if there are differences in the bodies, but both my 69 Coronet and 70 Fury have had the bars out w/out taking anything apart, just loosening the adjusters until they are completely backed out and all weight off the front wheels. 70 Sport Fury 68 Charger 69 Coronet 72 RR

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: wh23g3g] #512378 11/03/09 04:18 PM 11/03/09 04:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 30 Oakbank, Manitoba, Canada 6 64 Savoy member
64 Savoy member 6 Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 30 Oakbank, Manitoba, Canada	Quote: I was checking over everything on the front end getting my torsion bars base adjusted before I attempt to install my 400/727 in my 73 Charger. I installed the new front urethane suspension, joints, tie rods, about a year ago. Everything was bead blasted and painted a normal coat of black epoxy, but not the thick stuff just rattle can stuff. I remember the passenger side torsion bar went in real easy and the drivers side was the one that gave me trouble. They've been installed about a year ago with the car still up in the air. Remember I was having trouble turning the adjuster screw on the torsion bars. Well I just went to adjust the driver's side and it was nice and easy and touched the anchor pivot easily. But on this passenger side torsion bar the anchor is all the way up so that's why the adjustment screw was always wobbling and hard to turn. How do I get the anchor to loosen and drop back down so I can adjust it? I loosened up the pivot shaft nut but it didn't change. I tried to knock the anchor pivot back down from the top but it won't move. Am I going to have to remove the bar again? What do you think happened? I guess this will keep me from installing the motor for awhile. Try loosening the strut rods. It made a big differnce for me.

Re: Possible nightmare problem before engine installation! [Re: furious70] #512379 11/03/09 08:21 PM 11/03/09 08:21 PM
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 902 Gilbert, AZ A Aspen7695 super stock
Aspen7695 super stock A Joined: May 2003 Posts: 902 Gilbert, AZ	Get a large pipe wrench and put it on the fitting the bar goes in. You can now turn the fitting so that it is aligned with the flats on the t bar. Just slide the bar in. If the adjuster is all the way up you need to pull the bar back out and turn the fitting in the opposite direction. That should put the adjuster in the right position. Raul

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