Torsion Bar Options

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ConValiant64

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I have a 1964 Valiant convertible that was originally a 6 cylinder and now has a 318. The front end sits noticeably lower than the rear. Upon inspection, the torsion bars were 'maxed out', so there is no way to raise the front end any further. What are my options? Do any companies make longer torsion bars.? Also, do they make front/rear sway bars for this year/model vehicle? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
Do any companies make longer torsion bars.? Also, do they make front/rear sway bars for this year/model vehicle? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

"Longer" bars would be for a B/E Body. What you want is a thicker in diameter A Body torsion bars. I forget what a stock 64 with a slant would have had so an upgrade would certainly help. A lot of members run .92 and higher bars which really helps in the ride and handling department. I would do a little research as everyone will have their own recommendations. I personally am going with 1.0 inch torsion bars from PST on my wagon.

Original Front early A sway bars show up occasionally for sale. You will need the LCA's with outboard sway bar tabs to run original sway bars. They show up for sale as well. 67-72 LCA's with the sway bar tab also work on early A's with the stock sway bar.

Helwig makes a beefy 1 & 1/4 inch (I think) hollow front sway bar that is light weight compared to a solid sway bar. Although not a true bolt-in, it's pretty close and can be used with original LCA's with the tab. It will also bolt to a tab that is attached to the shock bolt as well. The Helwig is what I will be using.

Hope some of this helps!
 
You don't want longer torsion bars, but larger diameter. Best deal I have found:

1.03" Torsion Bar - A Body

Mopar Performance makes some as well:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/dcc-5249150/overview/

Sway bars, I suggest Hellwig:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hel-55914/overview/year/1964/make/plymouth/model/valiant


You may find that in addition to this fun performance stuff, the car needs basic stuff like a front end rebuild. I am doing the same thing to the same car myself right now. This, along with the mods, makes the cars handle pretty well....

Incidentally, what are you doing for brakes?
 
"Longer" bars would be for a B/E Body. What you want is a thicker in diameter A Body torsion bars. I forget what a stock 64 with a slant would have had so an upgrade would certainly help. A lot of members run .92 and higher bars which really helps in the ride and handling department. I would do a little research as everyone will have their own recommendations. I personally am going with 1.0 inch torsion bars from PST on my wagon.

Original Front early A sway bars show up occasionally for sale. You will need the LCA's with outboard sway bar tabs to run original sway bars. They show up for sale as well. 67-72 LCA's with the sway bar tab also work on early A's with the stock sway bar.

Helwig makes a beefy 1 & 1/4 inch (I think) hollow front sway bar that is light weight compared to a solid sway bar. Although not a true bolt-in, it's pretty close and can be used with original LCA's with the tab. It will also bolt to a tab that is attached to the shock bolt as well. The Helwig is what I will be using.

Hope some of this helps!
Thank you. That information was very helpful.
 
You don't want longer torsion bars, but larger diameter. Best deal I have found:

1.03" Torsion Bar - A Body

Mopar Performance makes some as well:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/dcc-5249150/overview/

Sway bars, I suggest Hellwig:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hel-55914/overview/year/1964/make/plymouth/model/valiant


You may find that in addition to this fun performance stuff, the car needs basic stuff like a front end rebuild. I am doing the same thing to the same car myself right now. This, along with the mods, makes the cars handle pretty well....

Incidentally, what are you doing for brakes?
Thanks for the sites. I've got some research to do. Current brakes are 9-inch drum.
 
Thanks for the sites. I've got some research to do. Current brakes are 9-inch drum.

I would strongly encourage a brake upgrade, at least to the dual pot master cylinder....I am putting disc brakes on mine from a 73+ a body. Lots of options on brakes, but a must in my opinion.

sb
 
I would strongly encourage a brake upgrade, at least to the dual pot master cylinder....I am putting disc brakes on mine from a 73+ a body. Lots of options on brakes, but a must in my opinion.

sb
Thankfully, the car came with power brakes and a dual pot m.c., but an excellent recommendation. Not sure I would tolerate manual brakes for long at my age. Thanks again.
 
You don't want longer torsion bars, but larger diameter. Best deal I have found:

1.03" Torsion Bar - A Body

Mopar Performance makes some as well:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/dcc-5249150/overview/

Sway bars, I suggest Hellwig:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hel-55914/overview/year/1964/make/plymouth/model/valiant


You may find that in addition to this fun performance stuff, the car needs basic stuff like a front end rebuild. I am doing the same thing to the same car myself right now. This, along with the mods, makes the cars handle pretty well....

Incidentally, what are you doing for brakes?

Just wanted to thank you again. Ordered the PST torsion bars you recommended. 1.03 inches at that price is about the best I could find.
 
Glad to hear you made the purchase. If you need assistance once you received them please feel free to contact me.

Thanks
James From
 
power brakes are still nice on an old cruiser. You may find the bars a little stiff with your soft old shocks. Most run Bilstein or better.
 
cant answer that, I run softer 340 bars with KYB's. Some current big bar/Bilstein user could answer that
 
The bilstein shocks are Bilstein RCD's. You can't actually buy them through bilstein, RCD buys them and reworks them. You can get them from PST, with the FABO discount they're probably one of the better prices anyway.
 
The bilstein shocks are Bilstein RCD's. You can't actually buy them through bilstein, RCD buys them and reworks them. You can get them from PST, with the FABO discount they're probably one of the better prices anyway.
Thanks for the info. BTW-I didn't realize there was a FABO discount. I already purchased torsion bars from PST, but don't remember seeing a prompt on the ordering web page that acknowledges FABO. Any idea how I can apply for that discount post-purchase?
 
Not sure if you can do it post-purchase, kinda doubt it. And you have to call and ask for it, it's not on the website as far as I know.
 
Glad to hear you made the purchase. If you need assistance once you received them please feel free to contact me.

Thanks
James From
James,

I have a PST product question: Why is the 1.03 torsion bar for my 1964 Plymouth Valiant so much cheaper than the negligibly smaller .980 or .870, etc? Just curious. Thanks.

Doug
 
James,

I have a PST product question: Why is the 1.03 torsion bar for my 1964 Plymouth Valiant so much cheaper than the negligibly smaller .980 or .870, etc? Just curious. Thanks.

Doug

I wondered this too but figured the 1.03 may not be as popular as the smaller sizes. So that might be why the 1.03 is cheaper to buy.

Those that ordered their Bilstein shocks from PST... Did you get new hardware or just the shocks?
 
I wondered this too but figured the 1.03 may not be as popular as the smaller sizes. So that might be why the 1.03 is cheaper to buy.

Those that ordered their Bilstein shocks from PST... Did you get new hardware or just the shocks?

The 1.03’s from PST are cheaper because they only make one size. So, their production numbers are higher and the result is a lower per unit price because they use a forger that does large production runs. Most of the companies making larger bars (Firm Feel, for example) sell a bunch of sizes, and basically custom make small batch runs of the bars. Which is the more expensive way to do it. The smaller bars, stock size bars are more expensive because Mopar Performance charges a fortune for everything. And most Mopar folks will pay a fortune for anything that looks original, even if it means having lousy performance.

The Bilsteins come with new bushings and sleeves, but not new washers or nuts.
 
72bluNblu is correct. We do large production runs of the 1.03" because originally when we first introduced them we did do small runs, but than they started to out sell the other smaller bars in some cases 3 to 1 or more. So it came down to simply supply and demand. As we sell more we can have larger runs made which drives production cost down and we pass that along to the customers. These bar are made here is the USA.

Thanks
James
 
The 1.03’s from PST are cheaper because they only make one size. So, their production numbers are higher and the result is a lower per unit price because they use a forger that does large production runs. Most of the companies making larger bars (Firm Feel, for example) sell a bunch of sizes, and basically custom make small batch runs of the bars. Which is the more expensive way to do it. The smaller bars, stock size bars are more expensive because Mopar Performance charges a fortune for everything. And most Mopar folks will pay a fortune for anything that looks original, even if it means having lousy performance.

The Bilsteins come with new bushings and sleeves, but not new washers or nuts.



72bluNblu is correct. We do large production runs of the 1.03" because originally when we first introduced them we did do small runs, but than they started to out sell the other smaller bars in some cases 3 to 1 or more. So it came down to simply supply and demand. As we sell more we can have larger runs made which drives production cost down and we pass that along to the customers. These bar are made here is the USA.

Thanks
James

Ah I had assumed that more people would have preferred the less aggressive bars so good to know.
 
Ah I had assumed that more people would have preferred the less aggressive bars so good to know.

"aggressive" isn't the right term to use about the larger bars.

These cars were massively undersprung in the front from the factory. The stock bars were for use with bias ply tires and shocks that are mediocre (at best) compared to todays standards. With a set of radial tires and good shocks you can double the stock spring rate and still have a car that isn't "aggressive" feeling as far as ride or handling is concerned.

I ran 1" bars from Just Suspension on my Duster with 225/60/15's. It was still what I would consider "soft" for ride quality, and it still had a ton of body roll. Those bars have a wheel rate of around 200 lb/in, which is double the rate of the smaller stock bars. Now, the 1.12" torsion bars I installed after that probably fit the "aggressive" bill for a lot of folks, but really even with those bars the wheel rate is on par with a lot of modern vehicles designed for sportier handling.
 
I just ordered the PST 1.03” bars today. Used the PRES18 10% discount code for Presidents’ Day weekend sale. It’s good through tomorrow. Saved around $24.
 
Being a member of the ForAbodiesOnly you are always eligible for 10% off your order of $200 or more. See the PST section of this forum for details.

Thanks
James
 
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