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Lower Control Arms & Sway Bars
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37870		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  FrankRaso [ Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:53 am ]
Post subject:  Lower Control Arms & Sway Bars
I've slowly been working on getting my 65 Barracuda converted over to disc brakes from the 9" drums it used to have all around. For better handling, I added a 1-1/8" Addco front sway bar many years ago. I'm using a 1974 Duster as the donor car for the brake parts.

In addition, I also have an engine-less (for the time-being) 72 340 Duster and a 1973 Dart. The 340 Duster is a former drag car from NC and has a K-frame set up for a big block. I originally planned to install the 440 from my 1978 New Yorker into the 340 Duster but I don't think I'll have the time for this project. It's looking more and more like I'll install the /6 from the Dart into the 340 Duster, complete with 1973 K-frame. Back when I was commuting with the Dart, I installed an Addco sway bar in it too.

The sway bar installation on the Barracuda is exactly like emsvitil's 64 Valiant Installation. Now that I've got the lower control arms out of the Barracuda, I see from the wear marks that the sway bar anchors on the control arms pivot with use. I've never been able to tighten the shock absorber bolts enough to keep them from moving. The sway bar mounts on the 1973 Darts LCAs also pivot and I've even tried welding them to keep them from loosening.

Some questions:
  • If I transfer the LCAs from the 1972 340 Duster to the 1965 Barracuda, will the Addco sway bar bolt up to it properly?
  • If I buy new LCAs from a 73-76 sway bar-equipped A-Body for the 1973 Dart suspension, will the sway bar for the 73 Dart bolt up to it properly?
  • How hard are 73-76 sway bar-equipped A-Body LCAs to find?
  • Do LCA reinforcement plates (like those from AR Engineering) make a noticeable difference in handling?
Author:  DusterIdiot [ Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Not easy to find...
Quote:
How hard are 73-76 sway bar-equipped A-Body LCAs to find?
Not easily found...I just got a pair out of a junkyard recently on a lucky find , I have a set from a Feather Duster that was equipped with the tabs but no sway bar or code for one... More than likely in a given yard with 10 "Darts" you might find one on average...
Quote:
If I buy new LCAs from a 73-76 sway bar-equipped A-Body for the 1973 Dart suspension, will the sway bar for the 73 Dart bolt up to it properly?
Not sure if it will fit... there was a change in how sway bars mount in the late A-body's the 67-72 had the bar go through that open pocket in front of the oil sump in the k-member, and the 73-76 attaches to "brackets" bolted to the K-member and passes under the k-member if I remember right. If it will fit, it might be easier to make work using the original brackets with new bushings.

Hopefully someone who has done the swap can chime in, since I only have 67+ cars, I'm not sure how much will retrofit in the late to 'early' cars...I had thought that the 66- is a bit more narrower in the front track???

Good Luck,

-D.Idiot
Author:  kesteb [ Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
The front end parts for the '73-'75 A-body are a straight swap into a '66 chassis. The only difference is the K-member and the centerlink, pitman arm and idler arms. I even used the '75 sway bar. Some modifications to the '66s K-member will be required, but once done they bolt right on.

I don't know how hard the tabs are to find on the LCA's. My setup came from a '75 Dart Custom Brougham with a 318. Not a performance platform by any means.
Author:  FrankRaso [ Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:53 am ]
Post subject: 
The tabs on my 340 Duster are at the bottom edge of the LCA (see Lower control arm interchangablity?). This would be opposite to the Addco mounting where an angle-iron tab is bolted to the shock absorber bolt. The Addco angle-iron tabs I mounted on my 73 Dart LCAs appear to be close to the location of the OEM 73-76 LCA tabs.

In comparing the Addco bar for my 1965 (tops of end-links tip inward) with my 1972 LCA tabs (tops of end-links appear to tip outward), the Addco bar doesn't appear to be designed to work with an OEM setup. That would explain the lack of Note 13 for Addco PN 751. Inverting the bar might be one way to have it work with the 340 Duster's LCA.

Since Addco PN 596 has Note 13, I should be able to use any 73-76 LCA with it.
  • Has anyone upgraded a narrow-body Formula S suspension with a 1-1/8" Addco bar (PN 751)?
  • I'm still interested to know if a LCA reinforcement plate adds a noticeable improvement to handling.
Author:  summerscheifer [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:41 am ]
Post subject:  re: shock absorber
hi i know its kinda late already but i have a problem and i need help. hope anyone could help me. :oops: A problem has developed while replacing the shock absorber on my TF. Everything went great on the left hand side and I was able to torque the bolts to the correct 40 lbs torque but on the right hand side the bolt threads were damaged when I removed them as though they had been previously cross threaded or damaged by a previous accident. Does anyone out there have experience is solving this type of problem. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :cry:
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