Have 1970 Belvedere Wagon with 225cid. Can anyone direct me to where to find proper replacement diameter for the torsion bars? Also need this info to include choice for A-Block engine bars as I'm wanting to stiffen the front end up. I guess I need to find a list of bars for the different engines. All I can find is the info for the B & RB-Blocks. Thanks in advance, Rennie.

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I found ----> http://www.firmfeel.com/ <----

They were VERY Helpful. I hope you can find them to be of help to you for your A-Body or B-Body ride.

Rennie

B Body cars had four possible torsion bars from the factory. .860, .880, .900 and .920.

The .860 is called the /6 bar but it also came with some SB motors. .88 is the SB bar, .900 is the big block bar and .920 is the Hemi bar. But those are just names, not firm rules. Even a /6 car could have been ordered with a heavy duty suspension, maybe even a towing package?

I'm not sure if any of those bars are available anymore. You might be able to find a .920 Hemi bar from Mopar or in the aftermarket. Most people run at least a .920 bar in a big B body car, many go even larger. Radial tires and gas shocks change the equation quite a bit so you don't really have to run those super soft springs anymore.

Renko:

About a year ago I discovered that the torsion bars in my Dart were miss-matched, that is: driver’s side @0.81â€￾; and passenger’s side @ 0.86â€￾, making for rather peculiar driving characteristics. Right hand turns were a flopping wallowing mess, lefties much tighter but still she was keeling over.

I replaced twins, Arnold & Danny, with a set of Firm Feel 0.94â€￾ bars, those cupped with new HD rear springs, front anti sway bar, and sub frame connectors has made her a nice riding, flat cornering, predictable handling machine.

You will find that using stiffer than stock bars will make the car feel more like a modern car. I believe that Josh Skinner has or did have, an “Aâ€￾ body, with 1.00â€￾ bars. Your “Bâ€￾ body could probably stand an even stiffer bar as those cars are a bit heaver than an “Aâ€￾ body.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Yes, I have 1.04" torsion bars in my '67 Valiant. I also have QA1 shocks to control the suspension.

The same diameter bar in a B-body has a lower wheel rate due to the longer bar. Firm Feel shows 175 lbs/in for a 1.00" bar in a B-body and 195 lbs/in in an A-body. Also, a heavier car needs a higher rate spring/bar to get an equivalent suspension frequency.

My '72 Dart should be relatively cushy with .990" bars since it's got about 100 lbs more on the nose than the Valiant. The extra weight is from the 360 and power steering. Don't hate me for owning a V8 car.

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Joshua

My old '69 Barracuda (El Roach O-Matic) had 1.04 Bars and I loved how it rode. Cornered pretty flat even with flapped out suspension. Make sure you get a good alignment. I got lucky and the guy that did the Roach was willing to "deviate from factory settings"....it made a world of difference. Also, heavy bars need GOOD shocks. I've heard nothing but bad things about KYB's and big bars together.

When I can afford it...I'm putting Firm Feel T-bars in my '62 wagon. Thinking 1.12's, sway bars and a set of Bilstiens. It's already got a 16:1 manual box.

I may only have a stock Slant 6 at Willow Springs next year, but I won't need to slow down in the corners very much

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Rob

'62 Plymouth Savoy Wagon
'64 Chrysler 300
'47 Farmall H
Merlins are cool
Radials rule
Jets drool