Anyone here have any experience in installing a F-Body 2nd generation front sway bar into a 66 chevelle?
jim larson said
Oct 26, 2015
Is this a recommended up-grade. Is it a P I ...? The rest on the front suspension is factory if that makes a difference. Except steering ratio has been change and effort increased. Has anyone here done this? I haven'g gotten a sway bar yet. Hope to pick one up for $30 or less.
Derek69SS said
Oct 26, 2015
I have done it a few times. You'll need longer end links to keep the sway bar from hitting the tie rods.
It's a good cheap upgrade IMHO.
Enganeer said
Oct 26, 2015
Don't forget to buy new mounting bushing in the correct sway bar OD.
jim larson said
Oct 26, 2015
Thanks for the comments. I have been reading some threads on TC regarding this up-grade. Sounds like something I can do. I understand the longer end links are necessary to be able to get the threads started, unless you use some kind of a pry bar to move the end of the sway bar down. And you should attach sway bar to the frame first. I hear that most of the trans-am bars from 70-81 are 1.25 or larger.
Derek69SS said
Oct 30, 2015
Most you will find will be either 1.125 or 1.250
The longer links keep the bar from touching the tie rod. It will be VERY close if you use stock length links.
SShink said
Oct 31, 2015
Derek69SS wrote:
Most you will find will be either 1.125 or 1.250
The longer links keep the bar from touching the tie rod. It will be VERY close if you use stock length links.
Derek, do you recall the length of front sway bar links that work with the F body 1.25" bar? I picked up a bar earlier this year and still need to buy the bushings and end links.
Thanks.
Derek69SS said
Oct 31, 2015
sorry, I don't... last time I did it was about 8 or 9 years ago.
jim larson said
Oct 31, 2015
Derek69SS wrote:
Most you will find will be either 1.125 or 1.250
The longer links keep the bar from touching the tie rod. It will be VERY close if you use stock length links.
It looks like the bar gets real close to the idler arm. I guess this might be an issue as some have noted on TC, can't find the photos or threads just now. Would a 1.125 bar be just about as good as a 1.25?
1.125 bar is about 45% stiffer than your original 0.938 bar
1.250 bar is about 75% stiffer than your original 0.938 bar
John D said
Nov 5, 2015
Did this conversion on "Blackie"...
Yes on the longer links needed. I wound up getting links for a '90's Ford F-150 (don't remember specifics). They were plenty long enough, and came with polyurethane bushings.
I had the bar bolted to the frame and raised the ends to where they were more or less parallel to the ground, and no interference with the steering linkage. Took a measurement. Then took the (slightly longer than needed) links and marked them to the length measured. A little trimming with a hacksaw on the tube and bolt to get the correct "assembled" length, and bolt them in.
Is this a recommended up-grade. Is it a P I ...? The rest on the front suspension is factory if that makes a difference. Except steering ratio has been change and effort increased. Has anyone here done this? I haven'g gotten a sway bar yet. Hope to pick one up for $30 or less.
It's a good cheap upgrade IMHO.
Thanks for the comments. I have been reading some threads on TC regarding this up-grade. Sounds like something I can do. I understand the longer end links are necessary to be able to get the threads started, unless you use some kind of a pry bar to move the end of the sway bar down. And you should attach sway bar to the frame first. I hear that most of the trans-am bars from 70-81 are 1.25 or larger.
The longer links keep the bar from touching the tie rod. It will be VERY close if you use stock length links.
Derek, do you recall the length of front sway bar links that work with the F body 1.25" bar? I picked up a bar earlier this year and still need to buy the bushings and end links.
Thanks.
It looks like the bar gets real close to the idler arm. I guess this might be an issue as some have noted on TC, can't find the photos or threads just now. Would a 1.125 bar be just about as good as a 1.25?
Below is a thread on a 1.25 bar install on a 66.
Install
-- Edited by jim larson on Saturday 31st of October 2015 09:48:43 AM
-- Edited by jim larson on Saturday 31st of October 2015 10:00:21 AM
Here is a photo from TC on the clearance between the sway bar and the idler arm. Later in the thread, solution is suggested.
idler arm
1.250 bar is about 75% stiffer than your original 0.938 bar
Did this conversion on "Blackie"...
Yes on the longer links needed.
I wound up getting links for a '90's Ford F-150 (don't remember specifics). They were plenty long enough, and came with polyurethane bushings.
I had the bar bolted to the frame and raised the ends to where they were more or less parallel to the ground, and no interference with the steering linkage. Took a measurement.
Then took the (slightly longer than needed) links and marked them to the length measured.
A little trimming with a hacksaw on the tube and bolt to get the correct "assembled" length, and bolt them in.