Just what it says. What's a good source for torsion bars? I'm planning on putting 0.92" bars on my Duster for a little stiffer front end when I redo all the suspension.

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

Any MP dealer - summit, jegs, mancini.

I have 0.890" ones in my daily ride and I'd say thats borderline for a daily driver. This is with KYB Gas-A-Just shocks.

I keep waffling back and forth between the 0.89 bars and the 0.92 bars. I want a comfortable daily driver that I can use to make regular 600-mile round trip drives home to Seattle and back, but at the same time, I want something that'll handle bombing around tight twists and turns at high speeds too. Now I plan on putting the larger sway bars on as well, so would you think the 0.89 bars would be just fine for cornering with the beefier sway bars?

I wish I could drive a car that's already got 0.89 bars and then one with 0.92 bars...

BTW, what's the stock size for a slant-powered '74 Duster?

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

'73 and up all used the same bar. Not sure about the diameter, but it is a V-8 bar.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

the .89's and the .87's are no longer available threw mopar

Over on Big Block Dart, someone posted that a few .920's were still available.

http://www.bigblockdart.com/index.php/t ... 651.0.html

Yeah, I lurk there, too.

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

mopar still has 34 of the .92's in stock at $349.00 a set

Actually, no, there were multiple bar sizes installed at the factory right up through the end of A-body production in '76. Less-equipped cars (6-cylinder engines and/or no A/C, depending on year) still got smaller bars than higher-spec cars (V8s and/or A/C and/or cop/taxi, depending on year).

From the '73 FPC:

BAR or SPRING, Torsion, V (Valiant/Duster) & L (Dart), STANDARD:
6-cylinder: 2535 890-1
318 eng, w/o air cond: 2535 890-1
318 eng, w/ air cond; 340 eng: 2535 892-3

HEAVY DUTY:
All eng: 2535 892-3


From the '74 FPC:

BAR or SPRING, Torsion, V (Valiant/Duster) & L (Dart), STANDARD:
6-cylinder: 2535 890-1
318 eng, w/o air cond: 2535 892-3
318 eng, w/ air cond; 360 eng: 2535 892-3

HEAVY DUTY:
All eng: 2535 892-3

From the '76 FPC:
BAR or SPRING, Torsion, V (Valiant/Duster) & L (Dart), STANDARD:

All eng w/o air cond: 2535 890-1
All eng w/ air cond: 2535 892-3

HEAVY DUTY:
Exc. police, taxi: 2535 892-3
Police, taxi: 2948 634-5

Diameters are as follows:

2535 890-1: 0.85"
2535 892-3: 0.87" (same as
2948 634-5: 0.94" (probably same as 2535 894-5 used in '67-'69 big-block A-bodies).

I had to look awhile to find a set of 892-3 bars in a wrecking yard car when I needed 'em for my (departed) '65; most of the cars that hit the wrecking yard had the base 890-1 bars in them (or NO bars in them; think at least one other guy was on my same quest at the time). I did eventually find a set of 892-3s in a V8 car with A/C. So, not just a book difference, there was an actual, factual metal difference. If you're shopping for used bars, check them carefully for scratches and nicks along their length (reject or drive the price way down, sand/polish/repaint the bars, and hope), and note the last 3 digits of the P/N are stamped on the end of the bars. You may run across some of the older-numbered bars:

622-3: equivalent to 888-9, light-duty bar dropped before '73
624-5: Equivalent to 890-1
626-7: Equivalent to 892-3
628-9: No data in hand, pretty sure these are 0.89" diameter with no 2535 8XX p/n equivalent.

I really liked the 892-3 bars together with 205/70R14 tires, disc brakes, a 3.23 rear axle, 5-leaf rear springs and KYB shocks all around in my '65. Probably would've liked the combo even better with sway bars and a 20:1 manual steering box.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Mine's got no A/C. So between 0.92" and 0.89" bars Dan, which would you prefer on what'll be just a mild street car built as a daily driver intended for long highway trips with the occasional "Bullitt-style" driving?

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

Personally, I think the .890 are about the thickest I would run on a car that sees regular street duty. I have them in my '73 Dart sedan with a 360 engine in it, and it's tolerable as a daily driver. It gets to be pretty uncomfortable/annoying if you live where there are rough roads are inner city roads. It's also running the Mancini XHD springs in the rear and a large (1 1/16") sway bar in the front. It'll give all but the little sports cars a pretty good run for the money, and it's definately got more traction than one should really explore on public roads.

The slant six Swinger that I'm putting together now is gonna get the .870 bars (that came out of the 4 door) and XHD springs in the rear, with a front sway bar and maybe a rear bar if it feels like it needs it. I expect it to be both comfortable to ride in and pretty competant in the turns.

I tend to like my cars a little bit on the rough side, but unless you've got a big block in that dart, I wouldn't use the .920 bars in a daily car. If it was just a weekend warrior or autoxer I might think about them, though.

Which tastes better, a hamburger or a slice of pizza? This is one of those personal preference deals. If I were in your shoes, I'd set it up like I had my '65, and spend what would've been expensive-torsion-bar money on front and rear sway bars instead. Your tastes may differ. I don't think I would use 0.92" bars on the street unless I were suffering from kidney stones and wanted to try to shake 'em loose.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I'm probably working on a few, so I better get the stiffest bars I can!

Seiously though, it's sounding like 0.89" bars are going to be best for me. There are a LOT of seriously f*cked roads here in Spokane (and a few west of the mountains as well), and I want a smooth highway ride overall.

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

I did a bit of research on this subject over the last few days. Here are some relevant facts:

• 1. I rode in Lou Madsen's Dart, with .920 bars. I gotta say that it reminded me of riding in a really set up BMW. It was taut, not harsh, and really gave a sense of confidence at high speed. Lou also said that it was comfortable on his long trip to California.
  
  2. Mopar has discontinued or raised the prices on lots of their new bars. I was quoted $349 from Bill Kay Chrysler for a new set, and Summit is $308 for a pair.
  
  3. FFI has started making their own, for substantially less than Mopar bars, but still not cheap. http://www.firmfeel.com/torsionb_a.htm

I suspect that the EBay commandos are going to start running up T-bars soon.

Hope this helps,

Greg

Everything I've read says shocks are the most important thing to maintaining a comfortable ride.

I know of a guy on Moparts that uses something like 1.157 bars in his small block Valiant (Clair), and says they are fine.

Might do some searches on Moparts, lots of discussions on t-bar sizes and comfort levels.

I'm going to use the .99 bars I've got in my Valiant. If they are too stiff, I will go down, but for now I might as well run what I have. If I were to buy some, I don't think I would go below the .92 bars, but that's just me.

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'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

Not quite that simple. Everything has to be matched up well or there'll be deficiencies in the handling and/or ride. You can't put poorly-chosen springs, tires and/or sway bars on and expect any set of shocks to compensate.
Yeah...colour me doubtful in the extreme. Some people consider the noise from an unmuffled 440 "fine", too!
I'm sure there are some worthwhile viewpoints there, but every time I go look at Moparts, it strikes me the signal:noise ratio is a lot worse than it is here.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.