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Front end fun parts.
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31951		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  zorg [ Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Front end fun parts.
Picked up most the stuff for a disk brake swap and front end rebuild, and scored some LCA's with sway bar mounts! Now I need to find the last few "fun" parts to complete the setup.

1) Since I have the sway bar mounts, now I need a bar to put in them. I've been reading in Tom Condran's book, and he references the stock MoPar bars by inches, and the Addco bars by rate/pound. Ad that to my inexperience, and I'm lost! What do I need to know to pic out a bar?

2) Where is the best place to find better torsion bars? The after market, swap meets, is there hope in a wrecking yard?

For some background, I have a daily driver '76 Dart Swinger. 2 door, /6 , 4speed. It's all stock save for a super six, KYB's, and BFG radials. *For the record, I already bought the KYB's, so they're staying for now, like 'em or not. I'd like a fairly stiff ride, but realize that I do drive on the occasional gravel road. Is the 1 1/8" sway bar from Just Suspension too much? (http://www.justsuspension.com/product/337) I'm all ears to your experiences. Any info would be great!
Author:  zorg [ Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
Did I not word it clearly enough, or has no one else had to pick out sway bars, etc? I doubt the second, so I'll try again:

I'm just looking for your experiences and opinions here. I'm looking at an 1 1/8" sway bar, and .88" torsion bars. Will this be too harsh for a daily driver, yet will it be stiff enough to throw into corners? Any opinions?
Author:  Eric W [ Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sounds good to me. I have a 1 1/8" bar on my Satellite....made a night/day difference. Your T bars don't look like they are to stiff, but a sway bar dosn't care if you have soft or hard suspension. If you have lower control arms with the tabs already welded on, then you should be able to get a bar that mounts to the stock location. Of course, you'll need the stock mounting brackets for the K frame and the end links. Get poly bushings...they squeek some, but deflect alot less than rubber. Hope this helps.
Author:  zorg [ Fri Oct 31, 2008 9:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Eric. You're saying you think I could get away with .89 or .92 bars? I'd love to go as stiff as possible, but not die on the occasional gravel road. I really drive this car, and I'm starting to get tired of leaning in corners...

Oh, what t-bars do you have on the Satellite?
Author:  Doc [ Fri Oct 31, 2008 9:55 am ]
Post subject: 
I like my cars to ride "stiff" so I do not have a problem with using .890 T-bars in a light SL6 A-Body. I have not used the .920 bars just because I have neve had a set. (aftermarket bars)

This is all 'personal preference'... what is OK to me may-be too stiff for you.
DD
Author:  2 Darts [ Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Front end fun parts.
Quote:
Picked up most the stuff for a disk brake swap and front end rebuild, and scored some LCA's with sway bar mounts! Now I need to find the last few "fun" parts to complete the setup.

1) Since I have the sway bar mounts, now I need a bar to put in them. I've been reading in Tom Condran's book, and he references the stock MoPar bars by inches, and the Addco bars by rate/pound. Ad that to my inexperience, and I'm lost! What do I need to know to pic out a bar?

2) Where is the best place to find better torsion bars? The after market, swap meets, is there hope in a wrecking yard?

For some background, I have a daily driver '76 Dart Swinger. 2 door, /6 , 4speed. It's all stock save for a super six, KYB's, and BFG radials. *For the record, I already bought the KYB's, so they're staying for now, like 'em or not. I'd like a fairly stiff ride, but realize that I do drive on the occasional gravel road. Is the 1 1/8" sway bar from Just Suspension too much? (http://www.justsuspension.com/product/337) I'm all ears to your experiences. Any info would be great!
1) Putting on just a front sway bar will increase understeer. Is the 1 1/8 sway bar the biggest front? (It used to be). Add the largest rear bar to maintain handling balance.

2) After market is probably the best place to find torsion bars. You know what you're ordering and if you don't get it, you can exchange.

At swap meets and wrecking yards, take a micrometer with you to measure the bar. Old drag trick was to put /6 bars, with 90/10 shocks, in a 340 car to make the front end rise quicker. The mic settles opinions on torsion bar diameter.

Take a tape measure too, just to make sure someone isn't trying to pass a B/E bar off as an A-bar.
Author:  Reed [ Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:56 am ]
Post subject: 
Personally, and maybe because I grew up with old Cadillacs, I prefer to have soft springs for a comfortable ride but a stiff sway bar for good cornering.

I would try just adding a sway bar and see how you like it.
Author:  Eric W [ Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Thats where I was going with my reply also Reed. Zorg, I have what ever size torsion bars that came standard on my Satellite....which dosn't mean anything to you since my car is a B body and yours is an A.
Author:  Dart270 [ Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:56 am ]
Post subject: 
I just upgraded my '68 Dart to 0.890" tbars and it has had a 1 1/8" Addco sway bar for 17 years. I ran the 0.830" bars before this year and the ride did not suffer much from the upgrade. Handling is definitely better. Ride is wonderful, esp with the Edelbrock IAS shocks.

Lou
Author:  zorg [ Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
Ok all, thanks for the info. Now that I have some knowledge, I just need to find some cash... Thanks again,
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