60-62 front anti-sway bars

[62stepside longbox]

Hi everyone I can't seem to find to much info on this so I thought I'd make A thread. What is everyone using for front sway bars on there 60-62 trucks?
I've heard about the mustang two sway bar and also about adapting the later c10 bars. Any help is greatly appreciated

[markeb01]

I'm the guy that put a Mustang II sway bar on the front of my 1960 for a few years before swapping to a 73 front suspension. Here's what photos I have of how it looked:

First I bolted on a heavy plate to the bottom of the lower control arms facing forward:



Next I bolted up the sway bar using the linkage that came with the kit:



And finally I jacked up the front, marked and drilled the holes, and bolted the bar to the frame.



It worked perfectly for a few years until it was replaced with the later design. The brackets never bent or deflected, the bar worked perfectly. It really stabilized the steering on corners. The bar I used was a "straight" in the middle version made for the aftermarket (1948 Chevy), but I'm assuming a normal stock "bent" version would work just as well.

[forestb]

Before I switched out my cross member I installed one for a 63-66 from CPP on my 62. I had to do some measuring and drill all the holes but it worked great. There is a guy on here that is trying to star manufacturing them for a 63-66. If you do a smart search you should be able to find it.

[62stepside longbox]

Originally Posted by forestb

Before I switched out my cross member I installed one for a 63-66 from CPP on my 62. I had to do some measuring and drill all the holes but it worked great. There is a guy on here that is trying to star manufacturing them for a 63-66. If you do a smart search you should be able to find it.

Yes brad was developing one for a 60-62 until he hit a deer with in his suburban and the project was stalled but I believe he is back on it again. Did you have to put spacers in between the mounts and the frame?

[forestb]

No I did not except a flat peace of steal that came with the kit that helped with strengthening the frame. But when I installed a 77 sway bar on my new 77 front cross member I did have to install spacers. CPP sells those also.

[MusicMan70]

Thanks to Joe Pass

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=659224

[62stepside longbox]

Originally Posted by markeb01

I'm the guy that put a Mustang II sway bar on the front of my 1960 for a few years before swapping to a 73 front suspension. Here's what photos I have of how it looked:

Thanks for the reply, how did the bar look? (How visible was it and did it hang down low?) thanks

Originally Posted by markeb01

It worked perfectly for a few years until it was replaced with the later design. The brackets never bent or deflected, the bar worked perfectly. It really stabilized the steering on corners. The bar I used was a "straight" in the middle version made for the aftermarket (1948 Chevy), but I'm assuming a normal stock "bent" version would work just as well.

The 1948 bar you speak of, did this go on the torsion front end or the later front end?

[62stepside longbox]

Bump

[markeb01]

To keep all the information in one place, here's my response to the above questions:

Referring to the photos in the earlier post, those are all of the early torsion bar front end, including after it was removed from the truck and was laying on the garage floor.
The reason I used that sway bar was because it was left over from a 1948 Chevy coupe I had been building with an RB's Obsolete bolt in front suspension kit. I lost the car and front suspension parts in a divorce, but ending up with the sway bar.

I read that the stock sway bar dropped down in the center between the frame rails. Had I used that one it probably would have been seen, and would no doubt have ended up just in front of the front crossmember. Because mine was a custom Mustang bar, the droop had been removed and made straight across the front. Standing in front of the truck I don't remember it showing at all. If I can help further, let me know.

[LostMy65]

Like this?
http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com...y-gmc-pick-up/

[LostMy65]

So, why is it we can't just drill a couple holes at the bottom of the frame and our lower arms and mount a 73-87 sway bar?

[62stepside longbox]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

So, why is it we can't just drill a couple holes at the bottom of the frame and our lower arms and mount a 73-87 sway bar?

Good point, I don't see why not as people that do the later crossmember swap use the later Swaybars.

[DakotaKid]

Originally Posted by 62stepside longbox

Good point, I don't see why not as people that do the later crossmember swap use the later Swaybars.

This is exactly what I did on my 62 build. worked perfect. bought the dropped bushing mounts for the frame from LMC.

[RogerR]

Addco 117 works great on the torsion front end.

[LostMy65]

Mocking up the 73-87 sway bar looks to be good while the front is jacked up. But once I drop the front back down, the angle looks slightly off. I think I'll try a couple 'L' Brackets down on the front of the a-arms and see where that puts the angle. If it's still off, I'll try shorter mounting brackets. Another option may be to mount the ends to the bottom of the a-arms.

[Brad54]

Still looking for a test vehicle for my prototype! It's boxed and ready to ship to someone!
Shoot me a message.

-Brad

[LostMy65]

I left you a Private Message asking you what's involved in testing your sway bar? Do we have to pay for it? Do we have to send it back? Who pays for shipping either way?
I do AutoCad and I've helped Cap'n Fab with drawings for a couple of his projects. So let me know.
Thanks,
Robert

[Brad54]

Sorry, been swamped with organizing the Spring Commerce 2-Day Swap Meet this coming weekend.

I'll pay shipping round-trip.
Gotta have it back because we need to look at the hardware and make sure the entire kit works together, and then send it back to my manufacturer and make sure "THIS" is how it is supposed to be bent, and "THIS" is all the hardware that needs to come with it.
We can definitely work something out to make sure you've got one on your truck once they go into production.

The catch is, you've gotta drive the truck for a while with it on... Miles miles miles is what's important with this.

I had one on my '61 Suburban, and it juuuuuuust rubbed the inside of the tires on full-lock turns, so this one should clear. SHOULD.

-Brad

[LostMy65]

I don't drive my truck much. Just odd trips to Home Depot and the Garbage Dumps from time to time.
I probably wouldn't be a good tester.

[Brad54]

I need someone who will be able to put 500-1000 miles on it and not take a whole year to do it.

-Brad

[jasnake65]

If your still looking for a truck let me know

[Brad54]

Decided it is going to be easier, faster and much more efficient to get my wrecked '61 Suburban back on the road in the next couple months so I can continue with the prototype testing.
Dragging it back home and starting on it next week.

-Brad

[62stepside longbox]

Good to hear that your burban will be back on the road soon!

[wcorbett]

Just did mine the other day. Piece of cake...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post7603416

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by wcorbett

Just did mine the other day. Piece of cake...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post7603416

I was just looking today for your thread.