Torsion bars

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Carpainter

Carpainter

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Okay guys, I need some input here.
My '74 Duster came from the factory with a 6 cylinder but now has a 318 V8. My question's are:
What size diameter torsion bars should I install for a street / strip car
What is the correct procedure for removing and installing the new bars? Pictures would be a plus....lol
 
there is a thread floating around here where you can download a service manual. go download. it tells ya what you need to know about removing and installing them..

as far as what size ya need it all depends what exactly your doing with the car..

is it 90% strip and 10% street? if so keep the slant six bars.
is it 90% street and 10% strip? then i would go .920 to 1" bars..
is it 50/50 street strip? maybe go with a 340 bar.
 
abodyjoe said:
there is a thread floating around here where you can download a service manual. .
Click to expand...

lika so

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=132309&highlight=manual,+download

Under no circumstances be tempted to use pipe wrenches, vise grips, or other tools that gouge and scratch the bars.

You can buy import pullers off ebay, or build one easy. I just used a big short chuck of angle iron, and a piece of I guess about 1/2 x 2" x 6"? long strap iron. Drilled through both to form a clamp, with the angle hanging down where you can bang on with a hammer.

You must remove the rear clips, loosen the tension bolts, and jack up the car so the suspension "hangs" free. Sometimes the bars get "cocked" in the sockets from wear, so after you get your clamp on tight, sometimes you need to "turn" (rock) the bars rotationally to get 'em out of that "groove" they've worn.
 
abodyjoe said:
there is a thread floating around here where you can download a service manual. go download. it tells ya what you need to know about removing and installing them..

as far as what size ya need it all depends what exactly your doing with the car..

is it 90% strip and 10% street? if so keep the slant six bars.
is it 90% street and 10% strip? then i would go .920 to 1" bars..
is it 50/50 street strip? maybe go with a 340 bar.
Click to expand...

The car will be mostly street driven with the occasional trip to the strip maybe once or twice a summer. Jeg's lists .810, .890 and .920 size bars. I was thinking .890 bars but am really not familiar with making a decision on this. I would like it to have a firm front suspension but not real stiff.
 
Don't know how old you are, but if you have grown up with newer cars then I would recommend a .920 or larger bar. JMO These cars tended to 'wallow" a bit when they were new. I had 340 bars on my car back in the day & I plan to go larger now.
 
Carpainter said:
The car will be mostly street driven with the occasional trip to the strip maybe once or twice a summer. Jeg's lists .810, .890 and .920 size bars. I was thinking .890 bars but am really not familiar with making a decision on this. I would like it to have a firm front suspension but not real stiff.
Click to expand...

.920 or 1" are great for mostly street driving. they are firm but not stiff at all. keep an eye out on ebay. just suspension 1" bars go on sale often.
 
'64 Cuda said:
Don't know how old you are, but if you have grown up with newer cars then I would recommend a .920 or larger bar. JMO These cars tended to 'wallow" a bit when they were new. I had 340 bars on my car back in the day & I plan to go larger now.
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I graduated in '78 and my first car was a '67 GTO I drove to high school...lol I'm used to non-power steering and manual drum brakes - no problem with "wallow" in the steering...lol
 
Carpainter said:
I graduated in '78 and my first car was a '67 GTO I drove to high school...lol I'm used to non-power steering and manual drum brakes - no problem with "wallow" in the steering...lol
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Okay, you know what I'm talkin' about. I graduated in 1975. Really hurts when I think back on what happened to so many great muscle cars back in the day. I can remember some really nice cars that met a very bad end.
 
'64 Cuda said:
Okay, you know what I'm talkin' about. I graduated in 1975. Really hurts when I think back on what happened to so many great muscle cars back in the day. I can remember some really nice cars that met a very bad end.
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Oh yeah ain't that the truth. All my friends drove cars that turned out to be worth $$$ now. Let's see, my best friend had a '71 Demon, another friend had a '69 Mustang fastback, another guy had a '71 Torino....the list goes on and on. Our school parking lot would've looked like a car show nowadays and we all just ran the crap out of them and tore them up...lol
 
I'd go with the .890 383/440 bars, 1" or step up to .920 bars. I intended to build just a mild 360. It has turned into a race prepped 414 stroker, ported heads, portmatched intake, 1350 U-joints, chromoly driveline, etc. I say go ahead and step up now because you won't keep that 318 for long. They are about the same price!
 
I like the .990" bars with a sway bar, but I am much more interested in handling than in straight line performance. We do have .890" bars in my son's Dart convertible with a 440. The car also has a factory big block sway bar. It is a decent street handler and a blast to drive. My Barracuda convertible will have the same setup, also with a 440.
 
srduster340 said:
I'd go with the .890 383/440 bars, 1" or step up to .920 bars. I intended to build just a mild 360. It has turned into a race prepped 414 stroker, ported heads, portmatched intake, 1350 U-joints, chromoly driveline, etc. I say go ahead and step up now because you won't keep that 318 for long. They are about the same price!
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, I have a 360 block on the engine stand right now that I'm gonna go through and put in the Duster.
 
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